IBM is claiming to have changed the economics of Unix computing with the introduction of its new Power5 eServer systems, utilizing an advanced line of Unix and Linux servers using Power5 microprocessors, that it claims can deliver up to triple the performance of Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems.
The new eServer p5 systems are the result of a large-scale, three-year research and development effort at IBM extending beyond traditional Unix servers with mainframe-inspired features that are designed to help businesses thrive by providing higher utilisation, massive performance, greater flexibility, and lower IT management costs.
IBM says the new systems give users choices of implementing different solutions – ranging from a two-way server to a 16-way server – all leveraging the industry standard Power Architecture and designed to deliver the most potent performance and scalability ever available on the entry and midrange Unix platform, according to widely used industry benchmarks.
Using as few as one fourth the number of processors, IBM claims that the eServer p5 systems outperform HP servers in the significant Transaction Processing Performance Council’s TPC-C benchmark test.
During the tests the new eServer p5 systems shattered world records for select transaction processing, web speed, Java performance and other business applications beyond expectations, in some cases beating HP and Sun’s performances by two and three times.
“Today, IBM is heralding the next generation in the Unix industry, marked by extreme performance, efficiency and flexibility,” said Adalio Sanchez, general manager, IBM eServer pSeries.
“We’ve invested tremendously in new technologies, like the Power5 microprocessor and the micro-partitioning technology in the IBM virtualisation engine, derived from 40 years of mainframe innovations. This will transform the technology landscape and economics of owning and running Unix systems. Our new Unix systems will allow businesses to respond quickly to changing market conditions in the on demand era.”
By John Kennedy
