X4LIVE

On the IBM Support site at the UpdateXpress webpage new options has become available.  You can now update your server using the Library Version, the Installer or use IBM Director Update Manager.

Let us explain either one and where to get it:

IBM has had a ServicePac offering for VMware and this included support for VMware, IBM Director and the operating systems running in a virtual machine. They now have announced several additional ServicePacs for VMware to differentiate and for you to choose what level of support you need.

It is divided in a ServicePac "Enhanced", "Platinum" and "Gold". We will give you more information when you click on one of tha tabs in this content.

White paper with details on how to modify the XML descriptor for UpdateXpress System Pack, including adding and removing updates (April 2007)

This paper also gives an introduction into UXSPs, the UpdateXpress System Pack Installer (UXSPI), and the associated XML files. By simply editing XML data, one can experience the benefit of having a product tailored to your own specific environment.

Source:  IBM Support  

IBM System Packs for SCCM provides firmware and driver updates for Microsoft's System Center Configuration Manger by:

• Using UpdateXpress System Packs to provided updates to SCCM for System x servers.
• Leveraging SCCM administrators can quickly evaluate systems for firmware and driver updates available.

Source: IBM Support ,

The IBM Storage Manager version 10.10 has been released with support for disk systems DS4800, DS4700 Express, DS4200 Express and expansion units EXP810, EXP710, EXP100 and EXP420.

Bare in mind that the SM 10.10 upgrade is an offline process. 

The key new features are: 

Green computing promises an enormous win for IT: a chance to save money -- and the environment. Many companies are trying to go greener, but a few truly stand out. Here are the top 12 green user companies, as well as the green dozen IT vendors. In the Top 12 of Green IT Vendors, IBM was ranked #1.

Source: Computerworld

Teak Technologies, who makes a 10GB Congestion-Free Ethernet (CFE) Switching Solution for the BladeCenter H chassis.  Introduced in the US in august 2007 and came to our attention just recently.

Source: Teak Technologies and MarketWire

When you try to install a JS22 blade with AIX 6.1 or 5.3 you might run into problems when you use the CD/DVD media. This is cause by the mediatray in the BladeCenter-H, symptom:
Installation stops at "PLEASE WAIT STARTING SOFTWARE" and goes back to the SMS menu of the blade after 10 to 20 minutes.

Update 6 march 08: It is now officially a RETAIN tip H192779