IBM is rolling together its existing load balancing software, caching proxy servers and file servers and also creating administration software for a bundle designed to better divide and reduce the work of web-based servers run by internet service providers and large corporations with many points of presence. Called Nagano in reference to the Winter Olympics, where IBM used the server and load balancing technology to deal with 100,000 hits per minute at peak times, the bundle helps locate over-worked spots on the network or server failures and then adds server capacity and proxy caching where needed, an IBM spokesman said. The file server’s code currently only runs only on Unix, AIX and Solaris operating systems, but IBM will add NT support, already present on the proxy server, by the time Nagano ships before the end of this year. Products within the bundle can, however, operate with any server across a network. IBM is now testing the three technologies as a beta product with CyberStar and Deutsche Telekom, which along with other beta users will help define the look and functions of the administration software for overseeing Nagano from one site. Currently network administrators have to manage each product from an individual console, an IBM spokesman said.
