System overview

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IBM® Storage FlashSystem 5000 models are SAS-based storage solutions for small to midsize businesses having simple and flexible storage requirements.

Part of the FlashSystem family, these entry-level systems tap into advanced storage capabilities and can scale up as needed. The IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 models are easy to implement, easy to use, and easy to grow.
Figure 1. Front view of the control enclosure (2U24 version)
Front view of the SFF model (24 drives)
Figure 2. Front view of the control enclosure (2U12 version)
Front view of the LFF model (12 drives)
Table 1. IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 Models
Machine Type - Model Description Minimum Software Level
4680-3P4 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5045 2U24 Controller with Expert Care 8.6.0
4680-3P2 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5045 2U12 Controller with Expert Care 8.6.0
4680-2P4 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 2U24 Controller with Expert Care 8.6.0
4680-2P2 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 2U12 Controller with Expert Care 8.6.0
2072-3N4 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5035 2U24 Controller 8.4.0
2072-3N2 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5035 2U12 Controller 8.4.0
2072-2N4 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 2U24 Controller 8.4.0
2072-2N2 IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 2U24 Controller 8.4.0
4680-24H IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 2U24 Expansion Enclosure with Expert Care 8.6.0
4680-12H IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 2U12 Expansion Enclosure with Expert Care 8.6.0
4680-92H IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 5U92 Expansion Enclosure with Expert Care 8.6.0
2027-24G IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 2U24 Expansion Enclosure 8.4.0
2027-12G IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 2U12 Expansion Enclosure 8.4.0
2027-92G IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 5U92 Expansion Enclosure 8.4.0
Figure 3. Rear view of a IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 system
Image of a rear view of a IBM Storage FlashSystem 5015 systems
Figure 4. Rear view of IBM Storage FlashSystem 5035 and IBM Storage FlashSystem 5045 systems
Image showing rear of the IBM Storage FlashSystem 5035IBM Storage FlashSystem 5045 node canister

IBM Storage Virtualize software

IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 runs IBM Storage Virtualize which provides the following functions for the host systems that attach to the system:
  • A single pool of storage
  • Logical unit virtualization
  • Management of logical volumes
The software also provides the following functions:
  • Replication:
    • Simplify data management by automating configuration tasks.
    • Ensure seamless continuity while maintaining high throughput and low latency to applications.
  • Data reduction:
  • Safeguarded snapshots (IBM Storage FlashSystem 5045)
  • Ransomware threat detection
  • High-performance Distributed RAID for redundancy and fast rebuild
  • Large scalable cache
  • Easy to use management and automation that is consistent across the Storage Virtualize portfolio, including RestAPI, Ansible Playbooks, CSI integration, VMWare integration, and a modern Graphical User Interface (GUI).

For more information on IBM Storage Virtualize software, see the relevant IBM Documentation.

Note that some software features are subject to limits on this platform.

Control Enclosure

IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 comprises a 2U Rack-Unit (2U) Control enclosure, which contains:
  • slots for NVMe Flash devices (front)
  • 12 or 24 drives slots of SAS Flash or Hard Drive devices (front)
  • Two Node Canisters
  • Two Power Supplies.

The system can be expanded with the addition of SAS-based Expansion Enclosures.

Highly Available Architecture

IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 implements an Active-Active architecture, with the two Node Canisters forming a redundant I/O Group. Because data volumes are served by both node canisters, the volume remains available if one node canister fails or is taken offline.

Node canisters contain the systems CPUs, memory, backup batteries, and Network Attachment adapters.

Flexible Network Attachment

IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 supports a range of Network Attachment adapter features.

The following adapter types are supported by the system:
Table 2. Adapter types
Adapter Type Protocols supported Minimum or maximum per node canister Minimum software level
Quad-port 16 Gbps Fibre Channel SCSI 0 - 2 8.4.0/8.6.0
Quad-port 10 Gbps Ethernet iSCSI, replication 0 - 2 8.4.0/8.6.0
Dual-port 25 Gbps Ethernet (iWARP) iSCSI, replication 0 - 2 8.4.0/8.6.0
Quad-port 12 Gbps SAS Host attach SAS (Host attach) 0 - 1 8.4.0/8.6.0

In addition, each canister has three on-board Ethernet ports that are used for system management, replication, and Host I/O.

Power Supplies and Battery Backup

IBM Storage FlashSystem 5000 has two redundant Power Supplies. The system can be powered by only one supply (N+1 redundant).The power supplies are auto-ranging between high-line (200 V - 240 V) and low- line (100 V - 127 V) AC power sources.

Each node canister contains a Battery that allows a canister to save its cache and metadata in an unscheduled power-down event.

System components

For more details on the different components of the system, see the following pages: