IBM made an announcement that it would address unprecedented demand for large scale x86 virtualization technologies with its System x scaleable servers featuring IBM's Enterprise X-Architecture technology, X3, as well as new software to help speed virtualization efficiencies. System x comes in response to the large growth of virtualized systems. And IBM announced three high performance systems designed to deliver the greater virtualization, utilization, and performance focus that is needed in today's market.

Quoting from IBM's official press announcment:

"IBM has the hardware, software and services capabilities required to provide enterprise class virtualized solutions to our most demanding clients," said Susan Whitney, general manager, IBM System x. "IBM's strong partnership with industry leaders like VMware as well as its own Virtualization Engine technologies that are built into System x, allow us to deliver the innovative solutions needed to help customers drive efficiencies in their business operations."

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Based on IBM's Virtualization Engine technologies, IBM also unveiled breakthrough software that recognizes untapped utilization and hidden servers across clients' networks and helps identify opportunities to consolidate and virtualize x86 systems. More than 600 IBM Business Partners have been certified to use the IBM Consolidation Discovery and Analysis Tool or CDAT. Tools such as CDAT have enabled IBM Business Partners to accelerate virtualization adoption with more than 65 percent of our virtualization client engagements coming from business partners. Combined with IBM Director, the new software creates a powerful portfolio of datacenter automation and virtualization tools for the x86 segment.

Traditionally each x86 server runs only one application and therefore can have a low utilization rate such as 8 to 12 percent. By pooling, managing and optimizing IT resources across servers, virtualized systems can improve the economics and operations of under-utilized IT assets. The CDAT software has helped hundreds of customers identify and improve performance and in cases even quadruple a client's computing utilization.

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Pricing and Availability
IBM's new systems for the high-performance enterprise computing segment of System x will be available in May 2006, for virtualization, database, ERP and CRM applications.

• System x3950 -- Featuring high-performance capabilities, flexible partitioning and mission-critical availability, ideal for database, ERP and server consolidation; starting at US $17,499. (Formerly x460)
• System x3850 -- Compact four-processor server for 64-bit and mid-tier software applications; starting at US $6,999. (Formerly x366)
• System x3800 -- High-performance, multi-purpose server with large internal storage capacity, ideal for remote and branch-office solutions; starting at US $4,999. (Formerly x260)

Working together, System x and IBM storage can help customers create a virtualized environment with management across the entire IT infrastructure, reducing the operational risk of implementing complex solutions. System x servers are supported by the broad range of cost effective IBM disk, tape, software, and storage networking solutions.

Read the entire IBM press release, here.

Posted by David Marshall on April 22, 2006 06:23 AM