This IBM® Redpaper publication provides an overview of the IBM Elastic Storage® Server (IBM ESS) and IBM Elastic Storage System (also IBM ESS). These scalable, high-performance data and file management solution, are built on IBM Spectrum® Scale technology. Providing reliability, performance, and scalability, IBM ESS can be implemented for a range of diverse requirements.

The latest IBM ESS 3500 is the most innovative system that provides investment protection to expand or build a new Global Data Platform and use current storage. The system allows enhanced, non-disruptive upgrades to grow from flash to hybrid or from hard disk drives (HDDs) to hybrid. IBM ESS can scale up or out with two different storage mediums in the environment, and it is ready for technologies like 200 Gb Ethernet or InfiniBand NDR-200 connectivity.

This publication helps you to understand the solution and its architecture. It describes ordering the best solution for your environment, planning the installation and integration of the solution into your environment, and correctly maintaining your solution.

The solution is created from the following combination of physical and logical components:

• Hardware
• Operating system
• Storage
• Network
• Applications

Knowledge of the IBM Elastic Storage Server and IBM Elastic Storage System components is key for planning an environment.

This paper is targeted toward technical professionals (consultants, technical support staff, IT Architects, and IT specialists) who are responsible for delivering cost-effective cloud services and big data solutions. The content of this paper can help you to uncover insights among client’s data so that you can take appropriate actions to optimize business results, product development, and scientific discoveries.

Chapter 1. Introducing the IBM Elastic Storage System

Chapter 2. IBM Elastic Storage System architecture

Chapter 3. IBM Elastic Storage System planning and integration

Appendix A. IBM Elastic Storage System models