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Chapter 1. Introduction 5
This table is intended only as a starting point for positioning a ThinkPad/EFS system and
needs a number of qualifications:
The relative CPU performance numbers shown are rough indications of processor
performance. Total system performance is dependent on many other factors as well,
including memory size and disk performance. Also, processor performance depends on
the nature of the workload and may vary considerably from the indicated ratios. Do not
attempt to use this table for anything other than positioning the EFS models listed relative
to the other specific machines shown.
ThinkPad/EFS is shown as less than 1 CPU. This indicates that the single PC processor
in the ThinkPad must be shared between Linux processes (such as S/390 emulated I/O)
and S/390 instruction emulation.
An x/Series 430 EFS system can have 1, 2, or 3 processors enabled for S/390 processing.
Many of these machines can have a wide range of memory installed. The numbers shown
are intended to represent typical systems.
All the machines except the StarterPak can have a wide range of disk storage installed.
Again, the numbers shown are intended to represent typical installations. The numbers
represent effective disk capacity, after RAID or mirroring overhead.
The S/390 Chans column refers to S/390 channel connectivity, using ESCON and parallel
channels. All of the systems offer some channel connectivity, but all except the MP3000
are quite limited in this area.
This table ignores RAS characteristics. The PC-based machines (Netfinity/EFS,
ThinkPad/EFS and all the P/390-based machines) are designed to different RAS
standards than the more industrial strength MP3000 and StarterPak systems. This may
be an important factor when selecting a system for essential 24x7 production
requirements.
1.3 ThinkPad/EFS hardware used
ThinkPad/EFS systems are provided through IBM business partners. They cannot be
ordered directly from IBM. Different business partners may start with slightly different base
configurations and offer different options. The system we describe in this redbook should
closely match most starting configurations offered by business partners.
The basic hardware requirements are:
A Thinkpad in the A21p, A22p, A23 (or T23) series, or one that is closely compatible, is
the only supported base at the time of writing.
A major compatibility requirement is that the X windows support in Red Hat Linux 7.1 must
operate correctly with the ThinkPad display.
It must have a USB port (for the FSI license dongle).
It should have 512 MB memory (or more, if available).
It should have at least one 32 GB (or larger) disk drive.
The option for a second 32 GB (or larger) drive (swappable in the slot used by the
CD-ROM drive and the diskette drive) should be considered.
StarterPak
model A10
1 4+ 1024
fixed
Good 90 GB 4
ESCON
LPARs
Crypto hardware
ICMF
OSA-2
S/390
CPUs
Rel
CPU
Perf
Typical
S/390
Storage
in MB
Internal
Disk
Perform
Typical
Internal
Disk
Capacity
S/390
Chans
Significant
Features