1. Architecture

The architecture itself is called IBM Flex System.^[1]

It aims at managing hybrid cloud infrastructure environments "out of the box".

The basic intention is for the combination of integrated hardware and software that can be easily maintained. A similar concept had already been introduced with the IBM AS/400. Today, such systems are called converged systems. More specialized integrated hardware and software are referred to as appliances.

The compute nodes of the server blades can be x86 or Power Architecture and they can be used either individually or mixed in the same rack simultaneously, thus offering a hybrid ensemble which borrows from the zEnterprise/zBX ensemble^[2][3] (cf. Gameframe), including its ability to manage a combined physical/virtual hybrid environment from a single console.

PureSystems is shipped with the IBM Flex System Manager.^[4] It is an appliance which manages the resources according to the so-called "Patterns of Expertise", which provide field engineers' expertise from decades of system configuration. These "Patterns of Expertise" offer industry-specific (e.g. banking, insurance, automotive) defaults for the fully automatic and optimal orchestration of resources (e.g. workload balancing). PureApplication uses in conjunction with the IBM System Manager first Flex repeatable software patterns (pattern) and industry-specific processes, which are derived from the year-long collaboration of IBM with their customers and business partners.^[5]

2. Hardware

The basic building block of the system is the 10U high Flex Enterprise system chassis with 14 bays in the front for compute nodes ("servers") and storage nodes. Additionally, there are bays in the rear for I/O modules.

A flex-chassis can accommodate up to 14 horizontal compute and storage nodes in the front, and 4 vertically oriented switch modules in the rear. Contrasting to this, the IBM BladeCenter (9U high) has vertically oriented compute nodes ("blades"). This means that the components between the BladeCenter chassis and Flex chassis are not interchangeable.

Based upon the Flex Systems architecture (the components of which are individually available), there are three main products:

• PureFlex System (IaaS)
• PureApplication System (PaaS)
• PureData System (tightly coupled and specialized computer appliance / software appliance)

2.1. PureFlex

PureFlex is a factory pre-configured and combined hardware-/software system for IaaS in terms of cloud computing. It combines server, network and storage. IBM PureFlex is available in three configurations: Express, Standard, Enterprise.

2.2. PureApplication

PureApplication is a pre-configured platform for platform as a service applications. It is optimized for transaction-oriented web and database applications. PureApplication comes with IBM DB2 database and WebSphere Application Server pre-configured so users can run their applications into a preconfigured middleware engine.^[6]

Unlike PureFlex, which is sold by IBM Systems and Technology Group (STG), PureApplication is marketed by the IBM Software Group (SWG). IBM claims that PureApplication allows for installation (or deployment) of new applications within four hours.^[7]

The system's virtual pattern deployers encrypt on-disk data using Security First Corp's SPxBitFiler-IPS encryption technology, which is also licensed by IBM for its Cloud Data Encryption Service (ICDES).^[8]

IBM PureApplication System is available in three classes:

• W1500-32 and W1500-64, using Intel Xeon E5-2670 processors, housed in a 25U rack
• W1500-96 through to W1500-608, using Intel Xeon E5-2670 processors, housed in a 42U rack
• W1700-96 through to W1700-608, using IBM POWER7+ processors, housed in a 42U rack

2.3. PureData

PureData Systems takes the approach of PureApplication a step further being essentially a tightly coupled and specialized computer appliance and software appliance, the latter supporting both Oracle and DB2.^[9] It is thence marketed by the IBM Information Management Software, a brand of IBM Software Group (SWG).

PureData is focused at three main tasks within enterprise computing: business intelligence, near real-time data analysis and online transactional processing.^[10] It comes in four flavours:^[11]

• PureData Systems for Transactions
• PureData Systems for Analytics
• PureData Systems for Operational Analytics
• PureData Systems for Hadoop

PureData System for Transactions is a highly reliable and scalable database platform. It is aimed at e-commerce [i.e. retail and credit card processing environments) which depends on rapid handling of transactions and interactions. These transactions are small in size, but their sheer volume and frequency require a specialized environment. The new system can provide 5x performance improvement, partly through advances in high performance storage.

PureData System for Analytics builds on Netezza technology and it is aimed at business intelligence that entails huge queries with complex algorithms. It provides a large library of database analytical functions for data warehouse applications, and can scale across the terabyte or petabytes running on the system. It can support extremely high volume high speed analytics for clients (e.g. mobile phone carriers who want to identify potential churn and provide offers to retain customers).^[12]

PureData Systems for Operational Analytics is an operational warehouse system^[11] which supports real-time decision making. In contrast to PureData System for Analytics, which is aimed at handling large sets of data at a time, PureData for Operational Analytics is more or less a stream computing system that can analyze many small sets of data in real-time while PureData for Analytics will provide analysis only in hindsight but with large sets of data, though. Potential uses of PureData Systems for Operational Analytics are fraud detection or analysis of rapid fluctuations in supply-and-demand cycles.^[10]

PureData Systems for Hadoop H 1001 is a standards-based - so-called expert integrated - system which architecturally integrates IBM InfoSphere BigInsights, Hadoop-based software, server (IBM System x), and storage into a single appliance. Moreover, it integrates with IBM DB2, IBM Netezza, IBM PureData System for Analytics, and IBM InfoSphere Guardium.^[13]

3. Software

Both IBM and its partners provide software which is specifically certified for PureSystems ("Ready for IBM PureSystems ").

Currently, over 125 ISVs have already certified products for PureSystems, and business partners such as system integrators, resellers, distributors, ISVs or MSP can integrate PureSystems into their portfolio.

4. Miscellaneous

PureSystems was announced April 11, 2012.^[14]

It was mainly assembled at IBM Rochester Campus in Rochester, MN.^[15] But on March 6, 2013, IBM decided to shift production of Power Systems, PureSystems and PureFlex Systems servers to Guadalajara, Mexico from Rochester, Minnesota.^[16] After 2014, most systems will be assembled in Mexico.

5. Videos

• IBM PureSystems Family Tour with Jason McGee
• What are IBM PureApplication Systems? (Part One)
• IBM PureSystems Product Family - IBM PureData™ System Overview
• IBM PureSystems - PureData System Overview w/Inhi Cho Suh