IBM Power9 technology-based servers receive support from Rocket Software packages with GPU Operator libraries

IBM Latin America Software Announcement LP23-0270
May 9, 2023

Table of contents

	Overview		Technical information
	Key requirements		Ordering information
	Planned availability date		Terms and conditions
	Description		Prices
	Program number		Regional availability
	Publications

Overview

IBM® Power® technology-based systems are designed to run AI workloads, and this requires the right libraries built for use by Power. Most of the libraries are open source, so getting the latest level builds and right support is crucial to ensure the successful deployment of Power AI applications.

For clients using Power9 machines with GPUs and Red Hat® OCP kubernetes environment, there is a need of a code library to allow the application running in container to see and use the GPUs available on the system: GPU Operator software from RocketCE channel.

To provide technical support to our clients, IBM has partnered with Rocket Software to offer GPU Operator Power9® libraries Support (5639-GPU, 5639-GP2, and 5639-GP3) on selected IBM Power9 machines.

This support offering is priced per system to make it easy to order and consume.

Benefits of GPU Operator on Power9 Support include:

One, two, or three-year support agreement beginning at order delivery through the RocketCE website
Technical support for binaries
Defect support for binaries

GPU Operator library information

The GPU Operator specifically enables you to leverage the GPUs in a Red Hat OpenShift® Container Platform (OCP) for Power9 machines with NVIDIA GPUs, such as the IBM Power AC922 and IBM Power IC922 servers. The GPU Operator uses the operator framework within Red Hat OCP (Kubernetes) to automate the management of all NVIDIA software components needed to provision the GPU. Its components include NVIDIA drivers to enable CUDA, a Kubernetes device plugin for GPUs, NVIDIA Container Runtime, automatic node labeling, NVIDIA Data Center GPU Manager (DCGM)-based monitoring, and more.

The GPU Operator files are also located on the RocketCE channel on Anaconda.

Key requirements

GPU Operator:

Power AC922 or Power IC922 servers with GPUs
OpenShift command-line interface (CLI)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux® 8.4, or later
Requisite third-party software from NVIDIA (long-term support)

Planned availability date

May 12, 2023

Availability within a country is subject to local legal requirements.

Description

Rocket Software provides a combination of free and paid support---this offering is for paid support, which includes:

Access to general installation and use postings
Opportunity to leverage experience of other users
Early access to new versions, releases, modifications, and bug and security fixes
Support access through the Rocket Customer Portal
Access to Chat, as well as Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM phone support; proactive alerts; tech notes; and how-to webinars
Support for additional builds of relevant components on a best-effort basis
No support tiers---all clients receiving paid maintenance services get the same level of support

Support is provided from the Rocket Software Community Forum website.

Program delivery

When you order GPU Operator on Power9 Support, you get a PDF with all the details to ensure your technical team can get support from Rocket. Rocket is informed of the order and order number automatically to ensure quick entitlement. Registering on the Rocket support website implies agreement with the Rocket Software support agreement.

Important: This support is not provided by IBM Technology Lifecycle Services (TLS).

Downloading the software implies an agreement with the Rocket Software user license agreement.

The support agreement is valid for 12 months starting on the delivery date. This support is for one year, and you can renew it either by reordering the same PIDs from IBM or by ordering the renewal from Rocket Software directly.

Disclaimer

Information concerning GPU Operator on Power9 Support was obtained from Rocket Software. Questions concerning GPU Operator should be directed to Rocket Software, as GPU Operator is not IBM product. GPU Operator on Power9 Support is licensed to users under Rocket Software terms and conditions. Availability and support are the responsibility of Rocket Software. IBM is not liable and makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding GPU Operator, including but not limited to any implied warranties or condition of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Reference information

Publications for GPU Operator is available on the Rocket Software website.

Program number

Program number	VRM	Program name
5639-GPU	1.1.0	GPU Operator on Power9 Support 1 year
5639-GP2	1.1.0	GPU Operator on Power9 Support 2 year
5639-GP3	1.1.0	GPU Operator on Power9 Support 3 year

Program number	Maintenance 1-year Program number	Maintenance 3-year Program number
5639-GPU	N/A	N/A
5639-GP2	N/A	N/A
5639-GP3	N/A	N/A

Offering Information

Product information is available on the IBM Offering Information website.

Publications

None

Services

IBM Consulting™

IBM Consulting is the catalyst for business transformation. With deep industry expertise spanning strategy, experience design, technology, and operations, IBM Consulting has become the trusted partner to over 3,000 of the worlds' most innovative and valuable companies. Our 150,000 consultants embrace an open way of working, bringing a diverse set of voices, experiences, and technologies, such as Hybrid Cloud and AI together to accelerate business transformation. Supported by IBM Garage™, IBM's proven co-creation method, IBM Consulting can bring speed and scale to innovation with an enduring ecosystem of technology leaders to deliver solutions for some of the world's most complex challenges. IBM Consulting collaborates closely, evaluates freely, and applies breakthrough innovations that drive sustainable change and re-invent how business gets done. To find out more, see the Let's create new ways for business to do business website.

IBM Technology Lifecycle Services (TLS)

IBM TLS helps organizations protect their IT investment with support and services for their hybrid cloud and enterprise IT data centers across the product lifecycle. Deep expertise in IBM Systems, enterprise networking and third-party vendors, streamlined processes and advanced technologies such as AI, enable organizations to consistently maintain high availability for mission-critical workloads across the product lifecycle. Consultants have deep technical expertise, valuable tools, and successful methodologies which help organizations to solve business challenges, gain new skills, and apply best practices. For more information about the IBM infrastructure support and services, see the IBM Technology Lifecycle Services website.

IBM Technology Expert Labs

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For additional information, see the IBM Expert Labs website.

IBM Security® Expert Labs

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These services can help clients deploy and integrate IBM Security software, extend their team resources, and help guide and accelerate successful hybrid cloud solutions, including critical strategies such as zero trust. Remote and on-premises software deployment assistance is available for IBM Cloud Pak® for Security, IBM Security QRadar®/QRoC, IBM Security QRadar SOAR, IBM Security Verify, IBM Security Guardium®, and IBM Security MaaS360®.

For more information, contact Security Expert Labs at sel@us.ibm.com.

For additional information, see the IBM Security Expert Labs website.

Technical information

Specified operating environment

Hardware requirements

GPU Operator on Power9 Support

GPU Operator is supported on all Power9 technology-based servers with GPUs.

Hardware configuration:

IBM and Rocket Software recommend the Power AC922 (8335-GTH) or Power IC922 (9183-22X) servers for OpenCE. See the following table for the minimum Power9 hardware configuration with GPUs:

Hardware element	Minimum configuration
Server model	Power AC922 (8335-GTH) or Power IC922 (9183-22X)
Processors, cores	2 x 16 cores
Memory	256 GB
Storage	One 960 GB SSD + one 960 GB SSD redundancy
Network	One 10 GbE adapter
GPUs:	NVIDIA GPUs

Software requirements

GPU Operator:

OpenShift CLI
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4, or later
Red Hat OCP (OpenShift, Kubernetes implementation)
GPU Operator software from RocketCE channel
Requisite third-party software from NVIDIA (long-term support)

IBM Support

IBM Support is your gateway to technical support tools and resources that are designed to help you save time and simplify support. IBM Support can help you find answers to questions, download fixes, troubleshoot, submit and track problem cases, and build skills.

Additional IBM support

IBM Client Engineering for Systems

Client Engineering for Systems is a framework for accelerating digital transformation. It helps you generate innovative ideas and equips you with the practices, technologies, and expertise to turn those ideas into business value in weeks. When you work with Client Engineering for Systems, you bring pain points into focus. You empower your team to take manageable risks, adopt leading technologies, speed up solution development, and measure the value of everything you do. Client Engineering for Systems has experts and services to address a broad array of use cases, including capabilities for business transformation, hybrid cloud, analytics and AI, infrastructure systems, security, and more. Contact Client Engineering for Systems at sysgarage@ibm.com.

Planning information

Packaging

Not applicable

Ordering information

Consult your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner.

IBM Configurator for e-business (e-config)

GPU Operator on Power9 Support 1.0.0 introduces the following feature numbers:

PID Number	Description	OTC Feature number
5639-GPU	1 Year SW S&S Per Server Qty 1	MELXQE

PID Number	Description	Supply feature number
5639-GPU	Product Registration Card	5809

PID Number	Description	OTC Feature number
5639-GP2	2 Year SW S&S Per Server Qty 1	MELYSB

PID Number	Description	Supply Feature number
5639-GP2	Product Registration Card	5809

PID Number	Description	OTC Feature number
5639-GP3	3 Year SW S&S Per Server Qty 1	MELZSG

PID Number	Description	Supply Feature number
5639-GP3	Product Registration Card	5809

Charge metric

Charge metric for vendor products

Charge metric information can be found in the corresponding License Information document.

Program number	Charge metric	License Information document number
5639-GPU	Per Server	N/A
5639-GP2	Per Server	N/A
5639-GP3	Per Server	N/A

System Program Order (SPO)

An order for SPO 5692-A6P is mandatory for shipments of program distribution, electronic, and preload. The individual licensed program orders are for registration and billing purposes only. No shipment occurs under those orders.

To receive shipment of machine-readable materials the order needs to include SPO 5692-A6P and program feature:

SPO Program number	Program name	Supply Feature number
5692-A6P	AIX® 7.2 Std Ed Subs Specify	2379
5692-A6P	AIX 7.3 Std Ed Subs Specify	2380
5692-A6P	AIX 7.2 Ent Ed Subs Specify	2381
5692-A6P	AIX 7.3 Ent Ed Subs Specify	2277
5692-A6P	AIX 7.2 Private Cl Ed Subs Specify	2278
5692-A6P	AIX 7.3 Private Cl Ed Subs Specify	2279

Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions for the vendor program

The information provided in this announcement letter is for reference and convenience purposes only. The terms and conditions that govern any transaction with IBM are contained in the applicable contract documents of IBM and the vendor.

Licensing

Vendor's license terms apply.

Limited warranty

Not warranted by IBM. Warranty, if any, provided by vendor.

Volume orders

Educational allowance

Not applicable

Statement of good security practices

IT system security involves protecting systems and information through intrusion prevention, detection, and response to improper access from within and outside your enterprise. Improper access can result in information being altered, destroyed, or misappropriated or can result in misuse of your systems to attack others. Without a comprehensive approach to security, no IT system or product should be considered completely secure and no single product or security measure can be completely effective in preventing improper access. IBM systems and products are designed to be part of a regulatory compliant, comprehensive security approach, which will necessarily involve additional operational procedures, and may require other systems, products, or services to be most effective.

Important: IBM does not warrant that any systems, products, or services are immune from, or will make your enterprise immune from, the malicious or illegal conduct of any party.

Prices

For all local charges, contact your IBM representative.

Regional availability

Argentina, Belize, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Trademarks

IBM Consulting and IBM Garage are trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

IBM, Power, Power9, IBM Security, IBM Cloud Pak, QRadar, Guardium, MaaS360 and AIX are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

Red Hat and OpenShift are registered trademarks of Red Hat Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.

The registered trademark Linux® is used pursuant to a sublicense from the Linux Foundation, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world-wide basis.

Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

Terms of use

IBM products and services which are announced and available in your country can be ordered under the applicable standard agreements, terms, conditions, and prices in effect at the time. IBM reserves the right to modify or withdraw this announcement at any time without notice. This announcement is provided for your information only. Reference to other products in this announcement does not necessarily imply those products are announced, or intend to be announced, in your country. Additional terms of use are located at

For the most current information regarding IBM products, consult your IBM representative or reseller, or go to the IBM worldwide contacts page

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