IBM unleashes four Intel servers

IBM has launched four servers based on the 900Mhz Xeon processor, Intel's final processor based on its Pentium III architecture.

Pick of the quartet is Big Blue's eServer x430, which can handle up to 64 900Mhz Pentium III Xeon chips and a claimed 688,220 transactions a minute.

The x430 supports Linux through the Linux Application Environment and will also support the latest edition of Windows Datacentre Server, when it becomes available.

The servers can be partitioned into units of four processors so they can run multiple software platforms simultaneously.

The new line-up is completed by the x250 and x350 (four processors) and the x370 (eight processors), which all feature Intel's 900 Mhz Pentium III Xeon processors as well as X-architecture mainframe technologies such as Light Path Diagnostics, and IBM Director system management software.

Bill Colton, general manager, IBM eServer xSeries, said: "Customers looking to deploy industry standard data centre solutions can now select from the industry's most scalable line of servers to help build, run and manage their ebusiness infrastructure."

In addition, IBM announced a series of storage options designed for the enterprise, including internal LTO (Linear Tape Open) and SDLT (Super Digital Linear Tape) drives.

Tom Manter, an analyst at the Aberdeen Group, said a key part of IBM's eServer strategy has been to develop a full spectrum of Intel-based servers designed to offer customers maximum value and flexibility. "These new products serve to reinforce that continuing commitment."

IBM's announcement follows on the heels of Sun Microsystems which last week unleashed four new servers into the midrange market.

The Sun Fire servers are powered by Sun's UltraSPARC III 64bit chips and feature eight, 12 or 24 processors. They also provide features that were previously only found in the current high-end 64-processor E10000 machines.