IBM software helps servers fix themselves

IBM has launched a new version of the IT Director software that ships with its servers, which has been upgraded to include technology that can anticipate server crashes.

Once deployed, IBM Director allows users to link and control multiple servers and workstations from one terminal. It runs on Red Hat Linux as well as Windows 2000, Millennium and NT, Windows 95/98, NetWare, SCO Unixware and OS/2 operating systems.

According to IBM, software running on Intel-based servers becomes more prone to crashes as small programming errors accumulate. These kind of errors are predicted by the company's new software rejuvenation feature in IT Director.

According to industry analysts Gartner, around 40 per cent of server failures are caused by software problems, and these failures cause twice as much downtime on Intel-based machines.

Tikiri Wanduragla, senior consultant for IBM's eServer xSeries, commented: "Before, users had to input parameters for the server on how to check and when to check. This process is now automated, effectively having the server analyse itself for potential crashes."

"We're bringing mainframe-type technology into the Intel space, and that level of reliability is only possible when the machine does a lot of self-diagnosis," he claimed.

Earlier this month, IBM unveiled plans to equip its new PCs with online tools to diagnose and resolve common IT problems.

That 'self-healing' eSupport technology, licensed from Support.com, will be included in IBM ThinkPad notebooks, NetVista desktops, IntelliStation professional workstations and xSeries computers.

Officials at the company said that users would be able to access support services through an online portal that will run diagnostics applications after an individual user inputs his or her name.

Analysts have said that automated technical support systems "really save customers time".