Werner Lindemann, systems executive at IBM SA, says the new server range extends the Opteron-based systems introduced in 2003 to meet market demand for greater choice in the x86 segment.
"IBM is not pushing AMD over Intel, but merely introducing a new range of servers specifically aimed at delivering more energy-smart high performance computing solutions for business," he told journalists in Sandton yesterday.
Increasingly resource-intensive applications for business intelligence, data mining, enterprise resource planning and voice over Internet Protocol, are driving business demand for high performance computing, explained Bevan Lock, technical evangelist at IBM SA.
He said financial institutions and retail organisations were the most likely first adopters of the new AMD Opteron-based servers in the South African market.
In addition to high performance, Lock said power efficiency and cooling was another important issue that most large company IT executives would continue to face for several years to come.
"IBM`s new rack and blade server systems address both needs at the same time by combining the energy efficiency and processing power of the AMD Opteron processor with IBM`s memory acceleration, power management software and cooling technology," he said.
The new servers will use next generation "Rev F" AMD Opteron processors with new security and virtualisation features for running multiple operating systems simultaneously.
IBM expects the new servers to be available in September, but Lock said even if there were delays in AMD`s delivery, he was confident IBM would still be the first to market with servers using the Opteron processors.
In addition to broadening its server market opportunities, IBM`s strategy with AMD Opteron-based servers is to strengthen its position as the vendor with the broadest range of x86 rack and blade servers.
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