Unix servers remain high-powered computing choice

The Unix business is strong and growing and Unix servers remain the computers of choice for businesses that need high-powered computing, CPMnetAsia reports.

While Windows and Linux may dominate the market for low-cost servers, businesses spent more than $4 billion in the second quarter on Unix servers.

Sales of high-end machines (priced at $500 000 and more) grew around 20% in that quarter, while sales of midrange servers ($25 000 to $500 000) grew more than 15%, according to IDC. And competition among the three major Unix vendors is just as robust as the market.

"A lot of people thought Unix servers were going away, but not only are they not going away, they`re playing an incredibly important role in the data centre to handle mission-critical applications, such as databases, enterprise resource planning, and business intelligence," said IDC analyst Jean Bozman.

Provision Networks, global provider of server-based access infrastructure solutions for the Microsoft Windows Terminal Server platform, launched its Very Important Professional (VIP) programme.

The programme embraces the members of the terminal server community and recognises their efforts for educating, supporting and proliferating the use of server-based access technologies worldwide, according to a press statement.

"The Provision Networks VIP program is a global recognition programme for individuals who share both their practical technical expertise and experiences with their peers," says Jody Simpson, VP of media and investor relations at Provision Networks.

Provision Networks produces and markets the Provision Management Framework, Enterprise Edition, a full-feature access infrastructure solution that leverages the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 platform.

SWsoft, has announced Virtuozzo-based server virtualisation solutions on Intel Itanium 2 processor-based HP Integrity servers and other HP platforms, according to a company press statement.

Virtuozzo for Linux is now available for HP Integrity servers and will be supported by the HP Developer and Solution Partner Programme and other joint technology and go-to-market initiatives.

"Our advanced server virtualisation technology and tools are well suited for HP Integrity servers and other proven HP platforms with high CPU and memory capacity due to Virtuozzo`s near-zero overhead," said Serguei Beloussov, chairman and CEO of SWsoft.