April 23rd, 2008
IBM launches iDataPlex server; Eyes Web 2.0 customers
IBM on Wednesday outlined its entry to be the hardware vendor of choice among Web 2.0 companies with a server dubbed iDataPlex.
Big Blue calls the iDataPlex a new server category (gallery right, Techmeme) designed to be one of thousands crammed into a data center. IBM claims iDataplex uses less than 40 percent less power, can use a liquid cooled wall to run at room temperature, has a small footprint so you can double the number of servers in a rack and uses Linux and other industry standards. IBM’s iDataPlex is designed as a rack system.
The technology giant unveiled the server at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco so it can pitch a lot of potential customers, but it could appeal to a lot of enterprises too. After all, big companies also feel the crunch of high energy costs.
Among other key points about iDataPlex:
- The server is build for stateless computing and is designed to be part of cloud computing infrastructure;
- The iDataPlex can be made to order and ready to integrate from the factory;
- Yahoo and Texas Tech University are early reference customers;
- IBM will use the iDataPlex in its own cloud computing center. The company noted that iDataPlex is part of its “Blue Cloud” initiative.
The server will be available in June in the U.S. and across the globe by the end of 2008.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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