VA Linux serves up a slim server

VA Linux has introduced a series of servers targeted at large-scale web farms, supporting applications such as web serving, firewalls and load balancing.

The VA Linux 1120 server takes up a single rack space and comes preconfigured with the company's version of the Linux operating system and a Pentium III processor at speeds of up to 1Ghz. The server also includes multiple IDE hard drives and up to five fast ethernet ports.

The company has also introduced the VA Linux 1220 server that offers more memory and processing power. The server can support dual processors, up to two SCSI or two IDE internal hard drives, up to 4Gb of RAM, integrated dual 10/100 ethernet port and optional gigabit ethernet port.

Ali Jenab, senior vice president and general manager of VA Linux's systems division, said the new models replace earlier rack-mountable machines and are 1.75 inches, or '1U', thick. These dimensions are in high demand by companies that stack servers up to handle tasks such as web page requests.

The servers will compete with thin appliances from IBM, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems and Dell, and Jenab claimed the machines are available at roughly half the price of models from Compaq and Sun.