Lenovo intros Lynnfield-based server

Lenovo is following up on the introduction of Intel's Lynnfield processor with new single-processor ThinkServer servers, reports Channel Web.

At the same time, it is maintaining silence about any plans related to expansion of its server lines beyond its focus on the small and mid-size business market. Lenovo unveiled two new servers this week, based on the Xeon processor 3400 CPU, which Intel introduced as part of its new Lynnfield desktop and server processor family.

The company's new ThinkServer TS200 tower server and ThinkServer RS210 are both single-processor servers featuring the Xeon 3400 processor and Intel's new Foxhollow chipset, said Doug Petteway, Lenovo's ThinkServer segment product manager.

Microsoft Exchange is the most common groupware server for businesses, allowing workers to share calendars, contacts, and e-mail, but connecting to an Exchange server from a Mac has historically been problematic, says PC World.

Microsoft Outlook 2001 was an excellent Mac client for Exchange but was replaced by Entourage, which supported Exchange too, but not as well. Microsoft says it will include a new version of Outlook in the next edition of Office; how well it will support Exchange obviously remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Apple has released Snow Leopard which, among other new features, includes built-in support for Exchange 2007. That means users can sync iCal, Address Book, and Mail with Microsoft Exchange 2007 servers, without needing any third-party apps, conduits or messy workarounds.

Intel has introduced six new Xeon 3400 parts for entry-level servers and it looks like its partners are rushing to get the boxes out to customers, states The Inquirer.

The 3400 range all have 'error correcting code' memory and RAID 0/1/5/10 for server operating systems, and according to Intel can "help small businesses grow" by enabling "64% more sales transactions and up to 56% faster business response time". Most run at 95W TDP.

The chips are based on Intel's Nehalem micro-architecture that can support a fourfold increase in server memory capacity, that is, up to 32GB.