IBM, HP can't help Unix

The release of high-end servers by IBM and HP won't halt declining Unix server sales as the onslaught of x86 servers continues, according to analysts, says Computerworld.

IBM released four Power servers that are based on its latest Power7 processor, which will support the Unix and Linux operating systems. HP says it will incorporate Intel's latest Itanium chip into its Integrity servers, which will also support the Unix OS.

But even the new chips will have little effect on reviving the declining sales of Unix servers. Customers are increasingly opting for servers based on x86 chips, which are getting more powerful and entering markets traditionally dominated by Unix servers.

French desktop and application virtualisation vendor Systancia has appointed specialist thin client and server-based computing distributor Getech to distribute its software in the UK and Ireland, says Channel Pro.

Systancia recently opened a UK office, as well as releasing its AppliDis Fusion 4 application and desktop virtualisation solution in December 2009. The firm says it selected Getech based on its base of channel partners in the thin client and server-centric computing space.

Systancia has already achieved a strong customer base in the French financial, health, education and government markets, and is looking to replicate the success in the UK.

Intel has released an Itanium RISC-based server processor, ending a two-year delay, reports Information Week.

Code-named Tukwila, the 9300 series is the first quad-core Itanium and delivers a major performance boost over the previous generation, which is a dual-core chip. The new processor offers eight threads per core.

Intel had planned to ship Tukwila in 2008. In pushing back the release date further last year, Intel said it needed to add "some engineering enhancements". Compared to the previous model, Tukwila offers up to 800% the interconnect bandwidth, up to 500% the memory bandwidth, and up to 700% the memory capacity when using DDR3 memory components.