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IBM FlashSystem Storage for Power 11: What Attaches Where

Updated August 6, 2026

A Power 11 system has three distinct flash storage paths, and buyers who conflate them end up ordering the wrong hardware. Internal NVMe U.2 bays sit inside the chassis itself. The NED24 drawer extends that same direct-attached NVMe footprint externally, but still over a direct connection, not a SAN. IBM FlashSystem storage is the third path: an entirely separate, externally managed array that attaches over Fibre Channel SAN and can be shared with other platforms on the same fabric.

Direct-attached NVMe vs. SAN-attached FlashSystem

Power 11 flash storage paths compared

PathAttachmentShared Across Platforms
Internal NVMe U.2Direct, inside chassisNo
NED24 expansion drawerDirect, external cablingNo
IBM FlashSystemFibre Channel SANYes, when configured for multi-host attachment

FlashCore Module part numbers and feature codes

IBM FlashSystem arrays are populated with FlashCore Modules (FCM), IBM's NVMe drive that performs inline compression and encryption in the drive controller. Four generations have shipped to date, and the same nominal capacity within a generation can carry more than one valid part number depending on frame and drawer configuration.

IBM FlashCore Module part numbers and feature codes

GenerationCapacityPart NumbersFeature Codes
FCM14.8 TB01YM582, 01YM482, 01EK233, 03LG613, 01YK819AES1, ADS1, AHS1
FCM19.6 TB01YM583, 01YM943, 01YM493, 01EK232, 01YK818AES2, ADS2, AHS2
FCM119.2 TB01YM584, 01EK231, 01YM501, 01YK817AES3, AHS3, ADS3
FCM24.8 TB02YC416, 02YC423, 03GU599, 02CL186, 03GH469, 03GH824, 03GU518, 03GU531AES5, ADS5, AGS5, AHS5
FCM29.6 TB03GU600, 02YC417, 03GH470, 03GH766AES6, ADS6, AGS6, AHS6
FCM219.2 TB02YC418, 02CL183, 02CL182, 03GH471, 03GH764AES7, ADS7, AGS7, AHS7
FCM238.4 TB02YC419, 03GH472AES8, AGS8, ADS8, AHS8
FCM34.8 TB03JK076, 03JK162, 03GH935, 03GH936, 03JK687ADSA, AGSA, AHS9
FCM39.6 TB03JK077, 03JK163, 03JL077, 03JK693, 03GH933, 03LG627ADSB, AGSB, AHSA
FCM319.2 TB03JK078, 03GH931, 03GH932, 03JK160, 03JK164, 03JK699ADSC, AGSC, AHSB
FCM338.4 TB03JK079, 03JK165ADSD, AGSD, AHSC
FCM44.8 TB03NK832, 03JK992ADSE, AGSE, AHSE
FCM49.6 TB03NK831, 03LG001, 03LG002, 03JN354ADSF, AGSF, AHSF
FCM419.2 TB03NK830, 03LG010ADSG, AHSG, AGSG
FCM438.4 TB03NK829, 03LG019ADSH, AGSH, AHSH

A supported Fibre Channel host adapter is required on the Power 11 side for FlashSystem attachment. See PCIe Adapters for Power 11 for adapter options, and the IBM FlashSystem External Storage listing for the full compatibility and best-fit detail.

Sources

Related Models

IBM Power S1112 (9242-21B / 9242-21T)

The entry point into the IBM Power 11 generation: a single-socket, half-width 2U rack or tower system built for branch, edge, and smaller IBM i, AIX, and Linux deployments.

IBM Power S1122 (9824-22A)

A dense, dual-socket 2U scale-out server offering up to 60 Power 11 cores and 4 TB of DDR5 memory, IBM's mainstream choice for growing IBM i, AIX, and Linux environments.

IBM Power S1124 (9824-42A)

A quad-socket-capable, high-performance 4U scale-out server offering up to 60 Power 11 cores and 8 TB of DDR5 memory, built for enterprises and regional data centers.

IBM Power L1122 (9856-22H)

The Linux-optimized sibling of the S1122: a dual-socket 2U server with the same hardware ceiling but licensed for Linux-first environments, with limited AIX/IBM i core use.

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