Entered CNET Catalog: 03/11/2005
SKU: 84884EU
Manufacturer: IBM
Manufacturer description
Delivering on the new IBM Extended Design Architecture initiative, the IBM xSeries 226 offers affordable two-way performance. The IBM eserver xSeries 226 provides superb availability at a price that small and midsize businesses can afford.Product summary
The good: Supports two Xeon processors; extensive list of available components; no tools required to open case or replace drives; comprehensive management software.
The bad: A bit pricey.
The bottom line: For budding small businesses or midsize companies that have already endured their growing pains, the IBM xServer 226 is a wise investment.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 08/09/2005
When choosing their servers, two types of business would do well to consider the IBM eServer xSeries 226: nascent companies that plan to add several employees in the near future, and medium-size businesses that already have. For them, the xSeries 226 offers more than enough hardware and software oomph--such as dual Intel Xeon processors, up to six hot-swappable SCSI hard drives, and extensive management applications--to keep a few dozen employees working efficiently. Small companies intending to stay that way can think about a less full-featured, more economical server, such as the HP ProLiant ML310 G2.
Setting up even the most basic server requires technological know-how, and the eServer xSeries is no exception to this rule. However, IBM takes some of the bite out of the process by providing extra setup assistance. First, the well-written hard-copy installation guide lends a hand with seating hardware essentials such as hard drives and memory modules; the document also helps you make sense of the multiple driver and application CDs that ship with the server. One of those discs includes the IBM ServerGuide, a useful application that walks you through the complex process of configuring the server's hardware components and installing the operating system you choose for the machine.
Another CD features IBM Director, the comprehensive management program that allows you to monitor and alter all of the systems on your network. From within the program's neatly arranged Console window, you can drill down to any cluster of computers on the network, then observe or manipulate it (or an individual system) in numerous ways, such as conducting an inventory scan; evaluating the performance of specific system components, such as processors and memory; watching for potential system failures; or updating drivers and firmware. The program's massive 424-page user guide explains each of the application's features in detail and even provides a glossary that covers important networking terms and acronyms.
Like many other SMB servers, the xSeries 226 we tested has the look of a high-end tower-style computer. Its blackish-gray case lends it a professional air that will make it appear at home in most office environments. After simply using your fingers to untwist a couple of screws, you can easily slide the side panel off, revealing plenty of expansion slots and bays inside the case. The selection includes five different varieties of PCI slots: two 33MHz, 32-bit PCI; two 100MHz, 64-bit PCI-X; one 133MHz, 64-bit PCI-X; and one SCSI drive bays, depending on which storage type you order. Secondary storage drives fit inside three additional bays, one of which also supports yet another hard drive. Upgrading each of these bays is quick and convenient due to their toolless installation design.
IBM is the Baskin-Robbins of servers; the xSeries 226 offers just about every component flavor available. You can configure it with one or two Intel Xeon processors running from 2.8GHz to 3.4GHz; PC2-3200 DDR2 memory beginning at 512MB and maxing out at 16GB; 7,200rpm SATA hard drives rated from 80GB to 250GB; 10,000rpm or 15,000rpm SCSI hard drives measuring 36GB to 300GB with corresponding RAID 0, 1, or 5 support; various optical storage drives, including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM/CD-RW, and DVD+/-RW; and the dozens of usual operating-system suspects, such as SuSE and Red Hat Linux, Microsoft Small Business Server 2003, and Novell Netware. Every xSeries 226 configuration includes an Intel E7520 chipset, an ATI Radeon 7000-M graphics chip with 16MB of VRAM, and a Broadcom server buying guide offers more insight on how to choose the best components for your particular needs.
The xSeries 226 that we reviewed includes a respectable list of parts with a $2,950 price (as of August 2005). The list features a 3GHz Xeon processor, 512MB of RAM, a single 15,000rpm 36GB SCSI hard drive, a CD-ROM drive, and the Windows Server 2003 operating system. Though this configuration's price is tolerable, the costs rise quickly once you start adding components, such as another processor and more RAM--which you should consider doing if your company includes a dozen or more employees. Otherwise, you may notice a performance lag when everyone uses the network simultaneously.
IBM supports the xSeries with the typical one-year warranty that accompanies the majority of SMB servers, though that term does include convenient onsite service. You can always tack on more time by purchasing one of the company's extended support options, which consist of up to five years of warranty coverage with a four-hour onsite-service response period. Toll-free technical support is available 24/7 throughout your warranty period.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1out of 1 user reviews
Very Stong server with
Pros: Excellent Server.
Cons: Side panel is hard to put back on.
IBM Tech support is great, but they did have some problems pointing me to the corect driver for the RAID card.
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