IBM has launched its new desktop eServer systems, which the company says break price and performance barriers that have kept large Intel processor-based servers out of the mainstream of data centre computing.
[VIDEO]The IBM eServer xSeries models - geared for the mid-market sector - pioneer the new highly reliable IBM Enterprise X-Architecture (EXA), that allows customers to pay for computing power incrementally as they need it, with up to 16 processors and 64GB of memory.
EXA is an IBM mainframe-inspired technology that exploits Intel`s fastest processor, enabling new levels of computing on IA, previously enjoyed only by mainframe users.
"Early ship customers are already relying on EXA innovations to run business-critical workloads in the broad mid-market sector," says Chad Baker, IBM SA eServer xSeries manager.
The new IBM systems, called the IBM eServer x440 and the IBM eServer x360, cap a three-year development effort to build the world`s first Intel-based machine using industry-standard technologies capable of running the core applications that power e-businesses.
[VIDEO]The IBM eServer x440 is aimed at mid-market e-businesses where it can be used as a single big server that might run a large database or many small "virtual servers" for consolidating, for example, multiple e-mail servers, under one roof to reduce costs. The eServer x440 can run any combination of Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems within a single SMP configuration, including up to four physical partitions or up to 64 virtual partitions.
The eServer x440 provides a platform for both server consolidation and large, single system applications such as a database engine for business intelligence.
Powered by IBM`s EXA technology, the system scales to 16 Intel IA-32 Xeon processors MPs.
IBM`s eServer x360 pioneers a compact rack design powered by Intel`s new Xeon Processor MP and IBM`s XA-32 chipset - code-named "Summit" - that features IBM`s most advanced Copper chip breakthroughs. This architecture enables the x360 to offer customers 40% more processors per rack while taking up a third less floor space than competing systems.
Built with technology from IBM`s Project eLiza initiative, IBM`s blueprint for developing computers that can monitor themselves and adapt to changing conditions, the eServer x360 is the industry`s only Intel server that offers multiple layers of self-healing technologies designed to allow the system to continue operating - even through system errors or failures.
Coupled to this, IBM and Vmware are delivering tools designed to run more than 20 Microsoft Windows and Linux `virtual servers` on a single IBM eServer which will dramatically lower costs and consolidate workloads.
[VIDEO]Under the agreement, software developed by both parties will provide IBM eServer xSeries machines such as the x360 with dynamic logical partitioning.
In addition, the eServer x360`s optional RXE-100 Remote Expansion Enclosure, which allows customers to increase I/O bandwidth without requiring them to pay for a full system upgrade, is now also shipping.
EXA at a glance:
* Allows organisations to scale easily from a 4-way to 8-way to 12-way to 16-way simply by adding another node. This "pay as you grow" design lets organisations protect their initial investment and helps keep them from having to buy more headroom than required upfront.
* I/O expansion has never been easier; add PCI adapters as required. Remote I/O can be shared between two servers, saving rack space. All of this configuration flexibility comes without the worries of additional investment in InfiniBand, because Remote I/O supports future I/O technology.
* XceL4 Server Accelerator Cache adds up to 64MB of dedicated high-speed Level 4 cache memory per scalable enterprise node.
* Enterprise X-Architecture hardware platforms are optimised for Microsoft and Linux operating systems. The combination of IBM hardware and Windows and Linux operating systems provides high-end capability for a broad range of mission-critical enterprise applications.
* Self-managing tools delivered in support of IBM`s eLiza initiative help keep server availability high. Real Time Diagnostics performs diagnostics while servers are still running. Helps maintain server availability by performing diagnostic testing on system and subsystem components without having to take down the server.
* With the goal of keeping systems up and running continuously, IBM has produced a myriad of Active Memory tools that enable the servers to protect themselves and data from memory failures.
* IBM`s Software Rejuvenation tool can address and help avoid 32% of all server downtime by providing self-healing capabilities to servers.
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