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Sounds like what IBM is doing with mainframes - you always get a standard CPU module full of cores, and then pay for license to selectively unlock them. It’s b
by trasz 5y ago
Sounds like what IBM is doing with mainframes - you always get a standard CPU module full of cores, and then pay for license to selectively unlock them. It’s been like this for… two decades now?
- p_l 5y agoShorter, used to be that you still had different CPU books (still might be so) but the leasing model where it often makes sense for IBM to ship more hw than less is very popular with clients. Prime difference might be that from money point of view the way IBM handles it does end up in savings for the client (as it allows a pay-for-use/capacity rather than pay-for-hw model, and you can go 90% of the month in cheaper configuration and only pay for higher one for end of month/year ops). Another difference is that technically with IBM you're paying a license for microcode running on the CPUs, and you mix and match differently licensed versions to match your workload.
- classichasclass 5y agoIBM does this with their Power iron too. I had to get a Capacity on Demand (more like Crippled by Default) code to get the second CPU in my AIX POWER6 turned on. When the system planar had to be replaced, it had to be regenerated. What a pain. OpenPOWER and PowerNV systems running on the metal don't do this, but if there's an LPAR involved (AIX, i5), you could be on the hook. The moral of the story is to buy your Power gear from a company like Raptor unless you must run AIX.