HP releases NonStop server

HP is releasing the first blade server version of its NonStop computer, a highly fault-tolerant system designed to compete with IBM's mainframe, says NetworkWorld.

HP is also trying to steal some thunder from IBM with an interesting proposition. For customers willing to junk a mainframe application, HP is offering its new Integrity NonStop NB50000c BladeSystem "at no charge [with] a full year of NonStop platform software".

Illuminata analyst Jonathan Eunice dismissed the trade-in offer as "marketing bravado" and "juvenile".

Parallels released what appears to be the first application to enable Intel Mac servers to virtualise the Mac OS X operating system, says Computerworld.

In development for more than a year, Parallels' Server for Mac will let users of Apple's Xserver and Mac Pro hardware to create virtual machines of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Server, in conjunction with Windows and Linux VMs.

The software, which costs $999 per server and allows for an unlimited number of CPU cores (maintenance is extra), could encourage businesses seeking the efficiency and reliability provided by virtualisation to take a second look at previously-overlooked Mac servers.

Chinese online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment recently bought 1 200 servers for a large-scale upgrade, says TradingMarkets.com.

The server procurement is the largest for Shanda and estimated to cost 20 million yuan, said industrial insiders.

Shanda has reinforced inputs in its service centre, consumer data management software, charging and safety systems, according to a company spokesman.