IBM has unveiled new eX5 servers, which it claims to reduce the costs of existing IT infrastructure by reducing the server sprawl and the new architecture decouples memory from processors to support memory-intensive workloads.
The company claims that the eX5 systems take advantage of integration with IBM middleware to create a virtualised environment that can give users a flexible, scalable system that can reduce the number of servers needed by half while cutting storage costs 97% and licensing fees by 50%.
IBM Enterprise X-Architecture chip, which is in its fifth generation with eX5, allows processors on eX5 systems to access extended memory. The company also claims the new class of x86-based systems to offer six times the memory scalability.
IBM said that it will introduce three ultra-scalable eX5 systems in 2010, the four-processor System x3850 X5, the BladeCenter HX5 and the System x3690 X5, an entry-priced server.
According to IBM, the new eX5 systems includes features such as eXFlash, a flash-storage technology that can slash storage costs up to 97% by replacing hundreds of hard-disk drives and thousands of wires and cables; and FlexNode that provides physical partitioning capability to change from one system to two distinct systems and back again, allowing clients to run infrastructure applications by day and larger batch jobs by night on the same system for superior asset utilisation.
IBM’s Systems Director software management suite has been upgraded to support eX5 technology and will allow users to pre-configure servers, remotely re-purpose systems and set up automatic updates and recoveries.
In addition, IBM Global Technology Services is also introducing a new approach to delivering implementation services for server and storage products. New offerings include, implementation services for System x – BladeCenter or System x remote implementation and implementation serivces for System x – Remote ServicePac for IBM Systems Director.
