March 14, 2002 — (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — IBM (ibm.com/eserver) announced yesterday itsmainframe-class Intel eServer system at CeBIT 2002.
The IBM eServer offers a “building-block”-style architecture that allowscustomers to pay for computing power incrementally, and is designed tosupport up to 16 processors and 64 GB of memory. It uses fault-tolerantmemory, self-healing software, and virtual machine technology to provideperformance usually associated with mainframces.
The new IBM eServer xSeries 440 with Enterprise X-Architecture technology,caps a three-year development effort to build a powerful Intel-based machinedesigned for e businesses. The x440 uses the Microsoft Windows 2000Datacenter Server.The x440 can be used as a single large server to run a large database orconsolidate many small “virtual servers” under one roof. The eServer x440supports Microsoft Windows within a single SMP configuration, and isdesigned to support up to four physical partitions or up to 64 virtualpartitions.
IBM plans to offer customers a system designed to support a 16-wayIntel-based server capability for less than a Unisys 16-way machine. Pricedat just over $100,000, an IBM system with 32 GBs SDRAM, expected to beavailable in July 2002, would cost about 78 percent less than an Unisys16-way server, based on current Unisys’ prices as reported by CompetitiveProfiles. Customers can also purchase a two-way IBM eServer x440 starting at$18,500 with one 36 GB hard drive included.
