2.2 Positioning the IBM x3950 M2 and x3850 M2
The IBM eX4 servers are part of the broader IBM System x portfolio, which
encompasses both scale-out and scale-up servers, storage, and tape products.
2.2.1 Overview of scale-up, scale-out
The System x scale-out servers start from the tower range of two-way servers
with limited memory and I/O expansion, limited redundancy and system
management features to the rack-optimized two-way servers with increased
memory and I/O expansion, higher levels of redundancy, and increased system
management features.
The IBM eX4 servers are part of the IBM System x scale-up server offering,
which is designed to provide: the highest level of processor scalability with
support for up to 16 multi-core processors; up to 1 TB of addressable memory
with higher levels of memory availability; and flexible I/O expansion with support
for up to 28 PCIe adapters.
Figure 2-1 on page 57 provides an overview of the scale-up and scale-out IBM
System x product portfolio including x3850 M2 and x3950 M2.
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Planning, Installing, and Managing the IBM System x3950 M2