IBM debuts first-of-its-kind Linux-only mainframe

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Author: JT Smith

IBM today announced plans to deliver
two new dedicated Linux servers, including a first-of-its-kind Linux-only
mainframe that requires no traditional mainframe operating system
experience.

The IBM eServer zSeries offering for Linux consolidates from 20 to hundreds
of Sun and Intel servers, bringing the superior total cost of ownership and
bullet-proof performance and security of the IBM mainframe to an entirely
new class of customers. The announcement follows a year of remarkable
growth and interest in Linux on the mainframe at IBM, as the eServer
zSeries became the fastest growing platform in the industry and the only
server platform to chalk up five consecutive quarters of growth.

IBM also announced plans to deliver an aggressively priced, easy-to-manage
Linux server specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. The IBM
eServer iSeries offering for Linux uses IBM’s advanced “partitioning”
technology to help customers to reduce cost and complexity by consolidating
up to 15 standalone Linux and Windows servers onto a single physical
server. It supports the SuSE and Turbolinux distributions of Linux and
includes an installation wizard for rapid deployment. Both servers are
intended for infrastructure applications such as firewall, Web serving,
file and print serving, and mail serving and are expected to be available
in the first quarter of this year.

“These new Linux servers answer the call of every customer who is serious
about reducing server sprawl and dramatically improving their total cost of
ownership,” said Bill Zeitler, senior vice president and group executive,
IBM eServer. “Companies large and small are turning to ‘virtual’ Linux
servers to save ‘real’ dollars as they gain better control over their
e-business infrastructure.”

Running IBM’s industry leading z/VM virtualization technology, the eServer
zSeries offering for Linux offers an ideal platform for server
consolidation, utilizing the mainframe’s ability to create as few as 20 and
up to hundreds of virtual Linux servers on a single physical box, saving
customers substantially on energy, floor space, and maintenance expense.

IBM offers the industry’s broadest support of Linux, with its leading
middleware supporting both new servers. Linux services available from IBM
Global Services include:

  • Linux Support Line, which provides comprehensive around-the-clock
    enterprise-level remote usage and defect support for major distributions
    of the Linux operating system as well as all IBM and many non-IBM
    applications that operate in a Linux environment; and

  • Locally Delivered Services, including Linux Rapid Deployment solutions,
    providing the installation of Linux, the installation, set up and
    enablement of TCP/IP and the installation and configuration of Samba or
    Apache.

    About IBM eServer

    IBM is the number one server company in the world, offering a full line of
    data transaction, web application and appliance servers that embrace
    industry standards. Powered by breakthroughs such as microprocessors with
    copper wiring and Silicon-on-Insulator technology, IBM servers have
    captured industry leading benchmarks that measure transactions, web serving
    capabilities and performance in software applications. The IBM eServer
    line is an integral part of customized, flexible and scalable Internet
    solutions for companies of all sizes. IBM supports Linux on its entire
    portfolio of e-business servers.

    Information on IBM eServer is available at http://www.ibm.com/eserver.

    IBM news releases and fact sheets are available at http://www.ibm.com.

    The IBM eServer brand consists of the established IBM e-business logo with
    the following descriptive term “server” following it.

    The following are either trademarks or registered of International Business
    Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both: IBM,
    the IBM e-business logo, iSeries, zSeries and z/VM.

    Linux is registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

    All others are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
    companies.