Hardware Category

IBM i Storage and DASD Hardware

Internal DASD, external SAN attachment, and IBM FlashSystem NVMe FlashCore Module storage hardware sized for IBM i disk pools and ASP performance requirements.

IBM i Storage and DASD Overview

Storage hardware on IBM i is judged by how it behaves under real disk pool activity, not by raw capacity alone. Buyers usually compare internal DASD expansion, external SAN attachment through supported adapters, and IBM FlashSystem NVMe FlashCore Module options against current ASP balancing and I/O wait patterns.

This category also covers the physical drives, enclosures, and storage adapters that keep an existing Power server's disk pools healthy as workloads and data volumes grow, including the FlashCore Module generations (FCM1 through FCM4) IBM ships across FlashSystem's 4.8 TB to 38.4 TB capacity ladder.

Common Buyer IBM i Storage and DASD Questions

Should we upgrade storage on our current server or replace the whole system?

If the server's processor and memory still have headroom and the bottleneck is genuinely storage-related, expanding DASD or adding SAN attachment is usually the faster and cheaper fix. Pull current ASP disk busy statistics before assuming storage is the actual cause of a performance issue.

If storage, processor, and memory are all constrained at once, that is usually a sign the whole server has reached its practical ceiling, and a server replacement conversation makes more sense than a series of piecemeal upgrades.

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What is an IBM FlashCore Module and how is it different from a standard NVMe drive?

An IBM FlashCore Module (FCM) is a purpose-built NVMe drive used in IBM FlashSystem and Storage Virtualize based storage arrays. Unlike a generic commodity NVMe SSD, a FlashCore Module performs inline compression and encryption inside its own drive controller rather than relying on the storage system's general-purpose processors for that work.

IBM has released four FlashCore Module generations (FCM1 through FCM4), each cataloged across 4.8 TB, 9.6 TB, 19.2 TB, and 38.4 TB usable capacities, with every capacity carrying its own IBM part number and feature code.

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How do I identify which FlashCore Module part number and feature code I need?

Start with two facts: the FlashCore Module generation already installed or required (FCM1, FCM2, FCM3, or FCM4) and the usable capacity needed (4.8 TB, 9.6 TB, 19.2 TB, or 38.4 TB). Those two facts narrow the choice to a small set of valid part numbers, since IBM frequently ships more than one part number for the same generation and capacity to cover different frame or drawer configurations.

Once the generation and capacity are confirmed, match the part number to the feature code shown on an IBM configurator or reseller quote for the exact FlashSystem model being ordered against, since feature codes are frame-specific and are what actually drives the order path.

Open question page

Can an IBM i or AS/400 partition use IBM FlashSystem storage?

Yes. An IBM i partition connects to a FlashSystem array through the same external SAN attachment path used for other external storage, provided the Power server has supported host adapters and the FlashSystem array is configured for IBM i attachment specifically. This is a common path once internal DASD capacity or performance is exhausted, or when a business wants to consolidate IBM i storage onto shared infrastructure serving other platforms.

Buyers evaluating this path should confirm adapter and firmware compatibility with the exact Power server generation before ordering FlashSystem hardware or FlashCore Module capacity.

Open question page

IBM i Storage and DASD Features to Evaluate

  • Supported drive types and capacities for the target Power server generation
  • SAN attachment compatibility and required host adapter cards
  • Current ASP disk busy percentage and I/O wait trends
  • RAID and mirroring protection level already in place
  • Expansion headroom in existing storage enclosures

IBM i Storage and DASD Implementation Considerations

Storage upgrades should be sized against actual disk pool performance data, not just free space remaining. Buyers should pull current ASP statistics before comparing drives, and confirm adapter and firmware compatibility with the exact Power server model before ordering hardware.

IBM i Storage and DASD Product Directory

Storage Systems

IBM FlashSystem NVMe FlashCore Module Gen 5 (FCM5)

The current IBM NVMe FlashCore Module generation, cataloged in 6.6 TB, 13.2 TB, 26.4 TB, and 52.8 TB usable capacities across the FlashSystem 5600, 7600, and 9600, plus a 105.6 TB capacity exclusive to the FlashSystem 9600.

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A sizing guide for IBM i storage hardware decisions, comparing internal DASD expansion against external SAN attachment using real disk pool performance data.

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