IBM Bolsters Hardware Development Aimed at Windows 2000; Adds New Netfinity Models to Award-winning Server Line.SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 1999--IBM said today it will strengthen efforts to bring enterprise technologies to the Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. 2000-based server space. The company also announced new servers featuring Intel 's latest Pentium II Xeon (processor) Pentium II Xeon - The successor to Intel Corporation's Pentium II processor. The Xeon has the same P6 core as existing Pentium Pro/Pentium II units, but it supports a 100 MHz system bus and offers as much as 2 MB of level 2 cache. http://intel. processor and an upgraded setup and deployment tool that can cut many Netfinity server setups to just 30 minutes. The Kirkland-Wash.based IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) Center for Microsoft Technologies plans to speed development of enhanced user functionality for Netfinity servers using Windows 2000. IBM's X-Architecture(1) -- a technology roadmap The context of product management The existence of product managers in the product software industry indicates that software is becoming more and more commercialized as a standard product. for Netfinity hardware -- will serve as the blueprint for grafting IBM's tested enterprise technologies to the Windows 2000 operating environment In computing, an operating environment is the environment in which users run programs, whether in a command line interface, such as in MS-DOS or the Unix shell, or in a graphical user interface, such as in the Macintosh operating system. . X-Architecture initiatives currently planned for 1999/2000 include enterprise storage, scalable clustering (including use of an SP switch), high-speed interconnect technology, 8-way SMP (Symmetric MultiProcessing) A multiprocessing architecture in which multiple CPUs, residing in one cabinet, share the same memory. SMP systems provide scalability. As business increases, additional CPUs can be added to absorb the increased transaction volume. , advanced memory and cross-platform interoperability. Also, the center will help Netfinity "Partners in Development" members optimize their software (including Windows 2000 and associated applications) to take greater advantage of advanced Netfinity server features. For example, IBM's OnForever(TM) initiative, will extend within the next three years hot plug capabilities to memory and microprocessors. Further progress will be enabled by implementing technologies such as concurrent diagnostics and "on-the-fly" software upgrades, technologies currently available only on traditional mid-range and mainframe servers. "We're working closely with Microsoft to bring high-availability technologies from IBM's mainframe heritage into Netfinity servers," said John Callies, Vice President of Marketing, Netfinity. "These efforts are targeted at customers who want greater compatibility among disparate systems and who plan to use Windows 2000 for high-volume transaction applications." "More and more of our mutual customers are using Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. in demanding application server roles - like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) An integrated information system that serves all departments within an enterprise. Evolving out of the manufacturing industry, ERP implies the use of packaged software rather than proprietary software written by or for one customer. , financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. and enterprise messaging," said Edmund Muth, enterprise marketing group manager, Microsoft. "Systems engineering excellence, high technology and RAS (1) See network access server. (2) (Remote Access Service) A Windows NT/2000 Server feature that allows remote users access to the network from their Windows laptops or desktops via modem. See RRAS and network access server. features are very important to this growing part of the Windows NT Server marketplace - the server marketplace between $50,000 and $500,000." "IBM wants customers to enjoy the most compatible and reliable servers when running Windows 2000 and integrating it into existing applications," said Roy Clauson, Director of the IBM Center for Microsoft Technologies. "We will devote more resources to building the center's capabilities in order to integrate high-availability and other important technologies to Netfinity servers." New Netfinity Servers Feature 450Mhz Xeon Processors New Netfinity servers announced today support Intel's latest 450 MHz(2) Pentium II Xeon microprocessor. The new, Netfinity 5500 M10, for corporate departments, large workgroups or remote offices, and the Netfinity 7000 M10, for server consolidation, business intelligence applications and other rigorous, enterprise-wide functions, are available through IBM authorized resellers. The Netfinity 7000 M10 features a number of scalability, manageability and availability features, including: -- Up to four 450 MHz Pentium II Xeon in three cache sizes (512 KB, 1MB, 2MB) -- Advanced "chipkill" memory -- part of the OnForever initiative and initially developed for the Mars Pathfinder -- is more reliable than standard ECC (1) (Error-Correcting Code) A type of memory that corrects errors on the fly. See ECC memory. (2) (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) A public key cryptography method that provides fast decryption and digital signature processing. DIIMMS preventing system failures due to memory errors -- An integrated Advanced System Management PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). adapter for monitoring, remote systems management and predictive failure analysis Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA) is a proprietary IBM technology for monitoring the likelihood of hard disk drives to fail. It was introduced in 1992 in IBM 0662-S1x drive (1052 MB Fast-Wide SCSI-2 disk at 5400 rpm), and was industry's first such technology. -- Support for an industry-leading 12 hot-plug and hot-add PCI slots -- Support for 64-bit PCI adapter cards -- Up to 8 GB EDO memory EDO memory - Extended Data Out Dynamic Random Access Memory -- Support for high-availability features, such as redundant, hot-plug disk, fans, power and Ethernet adapters -- Light-Path diagnostics, exclusive to IBM, which quickly identifies failed components, reducing service time Estimated reseller prices on the Netfinity 7000 M10 begin at $10,549(3). The Netfinity 5500 M10, with two-way SMP design (up to two 450 MHz Pentium II Xeon processors) features: -- An integrated advanced management processor for monitoring, remote systems management and predictive failure analysis -- Support for four hot-plug and hot-add PCI slots -- Up to 2 GB of SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) A type of dynamic RAM (DRAM) memory chip that has been widely used since the late 1990s. SDRAM chips eliminated wait states by dividing the chip into two cell blocks and interleaving data between them. -- Support for high-availability features, such as redundant, hot-plug disk, fans, power and Ethernet adapters -- Light-Path diagnostics Estimated reseller prices on the Netfinity 5500 M10 begin at $6,599(3). World-Class Set-Up/Deployment For Windows NT Environments -- New Netfinity ServerGuide 4.1 IBM has enhanced users' abilities to set up and deploy their Netfinity servers, with the introduction of ServerGuide 4.1, the premier installation and set-up tool for Netfinity servers," said James Gargan, Director, Product Marketing, Netfinity. The revamped ServerGuide contains streamlined packaging and simplified set-up, often slicing configuration time to 30 minutes. These results were based on IBM testing of Netfinity 7000 M10 with ServeRAID 2 Adapter configured for RAID5, with four 400 MHz processors (each one has 4 MB of cache), and 2 GB of RAM. ServerGuide, based on extensive customer feedback during development, utilizing IBM's user-centered design In broad terms, user-centered design (UCD) is a design philosophy and a process in which the needs, wants, and limitations of the end user of an interface or document are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process. process, broadens network operating system An operating system that is designed for network use. Normally, it is a complete operating system with file, task and job management; however, with some earlier products, it was a separate component that ran under the OS; for example, LAN Server required OS/2, and LANtastic required DOS. (NOS) support for Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, Windows NT Workstation and SCO Unixware A server operating system for the Intel platform from SCO. It is based on Unix System V Release 4.2MP and includes SMP support for two processors with optional support for up to 32. As of UnixWare 2.1, it includes NetWare 4.1 file, print and directory services. 7. Upgrades Help Provide Investment Protection for Netfinity 5500 and 7000 Customers Designed with scalable features that keep pace with businesses as they grow, IBM's current Netfinity 5500 M10 and 7000 M10 customers can easily upgrade their systems to the new 450MHz Pentium II Xeon processor. Additionally, Netfinity 5500 customers using Pentium II processors can upgrade to Pentium II Xeon technology with a simple upgrade that users can install in minutes. A rebate program allows current Netfinity 7000 customers to acquire the new Netfinity 7000 M10 server easily and affordably. Balanced and scalable system design means that IBM Netfinity customers are offered a greater degree of flexibility in the future. Netfinity Server Options Additionally, IBM is expanding its server communications Options to include a new suite of PCI adapters providing serial, remote access or mainframe connectivity and wide area interface connections to Netfinity Server users. The new suite of PCI adapters include: -- Serial I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output Adapters -- The new Serial I/O Adapters feature 8, 16, and 128 server-based serial ports per PCI bus slot delivering high performance serial connectivity and management capabilities. These adapters are targeted for use in remote access and local serial connectivity applications, as well as point-of-sale and automation. The estimated reseller price starts at $399 for the adapters, available through IBM authorized resellers. -- Wide Area Network Adapters -- The new two-port and multiport WAN Adapters are designed for wide area interfaces connections and provide customers the ability for increase WAN bandwidth for applications such as electronic commerce, virtual private networks and packet networking. These adapters enable customers to extend LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. networks to remote locations using leased lines or pocket networks and help to consolidate telephone services and dedicate network equipment. The estimated reseller price starts at $719. These adapters will be generally available worldwide on February 12, 1999. -- Remote Access Server Adapters -- The new IBM Basic Rate Server Adapter is a four port adapter with integrated modem support for remote access servers processing analog, V.90 and ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. calls. The IBM ISDN Primary Rate Adapter is a single port adapter with integrated modem support for remote access servers using ISDN lines. Customers can leverage networked computers via remote access connectivity for telecommuting telecommuting, an arrangement by which people work at home using a computer and telephone, transmitting work material to a business office by means of a modem and telephone lines; it is also known as telework. , branch office connectivity, and enterprise WAN applications. The estimated reseller price starts at $3,199. These adapters will be generally available worldwide on February 19, 1999. (1) See the Netfinity X-architecture press release and white paper at http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/news/netfinity/net035.html and http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/techlink/wtpapers/netexarch.html, respectively. IBM press releases are available at http://www.ibm.com.press. Information about IBM Netfinity products and services is located at http://www.ibm.com/netfinity. The IBM Fax Information Service allows you to receive facsimiles of prior IBM product releases. Simply dial 1-800-IBM-4FAX and enter "99" at the voice menu. (2) MHz only measures microprocessor internal clock speed, not application performance. Many factors affect application performance. (3) Estimated reseller price to end users, excluding hard drive. Actual reseller prices may vary. IBM, Netfinity and OnForever are trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation. Other company, product and service names may be the trademarks or service marks of others. |
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