System overview

Edit online

IBM® FlashSystem 5600 is a 1U rack-mounted NVMe storage system that supports up to 12 drives in an ultra-dense footprint.

Part of the FlashSystem family, the IBM FlashSystem 5600 delivers enterprise-class availability and intelligent data services in a compact, energy-efficient design—ideal for edge deployments, remote offices, and hybrid cloud infrastructures that demand high performance without a large footprint.

Figure 1. Front view of the control enclosure
Front view of control enclosure
Table 1. IBM FlashSystem 5600 Models
Machine Type - Model Description Minimum Software Level
5127-A20 IBM FlashSystem 5600 controller with Expert Care 9.1.2
4662-12G 2U12 SAS Expansion enclosure with Expert Care 9.1.2
4662-92G 5U92 SAS Expansion enclosure with Expert Care 9.1.2
Figure 2. Rear view of the control enclosure, showing the node canisters
rear view of enclosure

IBM Storage Virtualize software

IBM FlashSystem 5600 runs IBM Storage Virtualize which provides the following functions for the host systems that attach to the system:
  • A single pool of storage
  • Logical unit virtualization
  • Simple management of logical volumes
  • Workload mobility with the use of FlashSystem grid for maximum utilization and operational flexibility
  • Scale-out performance and capacity with FlashSystem grid
  • Orchestrated immutable volume group and Safeguarded snapshots
The software also provides the following functions:
  • Replication:
    • Simplify data management by automating configuration tasks.
    • Ensure seamless continuity while maintaining high throughput and low latency to applications.
  • Data reduction:
    • Always on with no-impact hardware compression and deduplication operations performed on FlashCore Modules (FCM) drives.
  • Ransomware threat detection enhanced with FlashCore Module computational storage assists.
  • High-performance Distributed RAID for redundancy and fast rebuild
  • Large scalable cache
  • Easy to use management and automation that is consistent across the Storage Virtualize portfolio, including RestAPI, Ansible Playbooks, CSI integration, VMWare integration, and a modern Graphical User Interface (GUI).

For more information on IBM Storage Virtualize software, see the relevant IBM Documentation.

Note that some software features may be subject to limits on this platform.

Control Enclosure

IBM FlashSystem 5600 comprises a 1 rack-unit (1U) control enclosure, which contains:
  • 12 slots for NVMe Flash devices (front), which use the Enterprise and Datacenter Standard Form Factor (EDSFF).
  • Two Node Canisters.
  • Two Power Supplies.

The system can be expanded with the addition of SAS-based Expansion Enclosures.

NVMe Flash Devices

IBM FlashSystem 5600 supports the use of IBM FlashCore Modules, with inbuilt hardware data reduction and computational storage assists. The system also supports the use of Industry-Standard Flash Drives.
Note: Only drives that are sold as system options are supported.

Highly Available Architecture

IBM FlashSystem 5600 implements an Active-Active architecture, with the two Node Canisters forming a redundant I/O Group. Because data volumes are served by both node canisters, the volume remains available if one node canister fails or is taken offline.

Node canisters contain the systems CPUs, memory, backup batteries, and network attachment adapters.

Flexible Network Attachment

IBM FlashSystem 5600 supports a range of network attachment adapter features.

The following adapter types are supported by the system:
Table 2. Adapter types
Adapter type Protocols supported Minimum or maximum per node canister Minimum software level
Dual-port 64 Gbps Fibre Channel SCSI, FC-NVMe 0 - 2 9.1.2
Quad-port 32 Gbps Fibre Channel SCSI, FC-NVMe 0 - 2 9.1.2
Quad-port 25 Gbps Ethernet adapter

Host I/O that uses iSCSI or NVMe/TCP

Replication over TCP

 0 - 2 9.1.2
Dual-port 100 Gbps Ethernet adapter

Host I/O that uses iSCSI or NVMe/TCP

Replication over RDMA, TCP

 0 - 2 9.1.2
Dual-port 12 Gbps SAS Expansion SAS (expansion) 0 - 1 9.1.2

In addition, each canister has three on-board Ethernet ports that are used for system management, replication, and Host I/O that uses iSCSI or NVMe/TCP.

Power Supplies and Battery Backup

IBM FlashSystem 5600 has two redundant Power Supplies. The power supplies support either 240 VAC (high-line) or a 120 VAC (low-line) power source.

Each node canister contains a Battery that allows a canister to save its cache and metadata in an unscheduled power-down event.

Enterprise Warranty and Services

IBM FlashSystem 5600 is available with IBM Storage Expert Care, with several levels of support to suit different deployment models. Refer to IBM Enterprise Support and Preferred Care options for more information.

System components

For more details on the different components of the system, see the following pages: