IBM Expanding Linux on 2-Way Servers

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Renewing its campaign to lure customers away from Hewlett-Packard and Sun
Microsystems in the multi-billion-dollar server market, IBM rolled out
a
new machine tailored for the Linux operating system.

The OpenPower 710 is a thin, one to two processor, 64-bit rack system
designed to meet the computing needs of small to large organizations in
government, telecommunications and financial services markets. Its
dimensions are 2U (1U = 1.75 inches) and it is powered by a 1.65 GHz
Power5
microprocessor.

According to Joe Doria, program director for Linux on Power at IBM, the company is looking to hit a sweet spot in what IDC said could be a $5 billion market in 2005: Linux-based servers running two processors.

OpenPower 710 is the little brother to the OpenPower 720, a four-way
system
IBM launched
last year in order to appeal to larger companies interested in running
machines tuned for Linux.

OpenPower is another facet in IBM’s strategy of finding more placement
for
the Linux operating system on its servers. The 710 joins 64-bit
Linux
products such as the eServer i5, p5 and BladeCenter JS20 systems. More
broadly, the Armonk, N.Y., company’s Power architecture is seeping
into consumer products as well as supercomputers.

Doria said IBM has high hopes for the 710, given software vendors’
attraction to developing for the 720. Since the 720 was launched last
September, more than 250 applications have been ported to OpenPower,
bringing the total to more than 900, he said.

Both the 710 and 720 support Red Hat and SUSE Linux and can run IBM’s
latest
virtualization software, including micro-partitioning, which allows 10
machines to run independent of one another on a separate chip.

Doria also said IBM believes it will create further separation from the
server pack with its price points for the 710. A one-way machine starts
at
$3,449; a two way will set a business back $3999.

If customers want to add advanced virtualization capabilities, it will
cost
them an extra $1,500. In essence, an outfit would pay $5,000 for a
single
machine with decent power and features. The 710 will be available Feb.
18.

Also, Doria said IBM is offering IBM OpenPower Consolidation Express
for
small and medium-sized customers to consolidate workloads normally
deployed
as separate file or Web servers onto a single OpenPower 710. Express is
also
available on the 720.