Although it’s targeting Intel Corp’s Merced processor as the engine for its next generation Millennium enterprise servers which will run OpenVME and UnixWare side-by-side (CI No 2,950), ICL Plc has already got its mainframe operating system up and running on Pentium Pros and will introduce a new range of OpenVME mainframes using the Intel parts by the end of the year called DY, which will supersede the CMOS-based DX series. While the hybrid Millennium architecture will theoretically support other Intel-based system software too, ICL says it’s got no schedule for the availability of Windows NT, because its NT concerns are looked after by one of parent Fujitsu Ltd’s product groups. ICL says the Millennium servers will support OpenVME and UnixWare applications without modification, and enable Unix applications to take advantage of mainframe reliability features. Before the Merced-based hybrid systems debut, ICL will this year introduce a new CMOS-based OpenVME mainframe called SY, which will incorporate UnixWare running on Intel co-processors. The Intel processors will also be available to ICL’s existing Series 39 SX mainframe customers. Early versions of SY – due in four-by-four and two-by-two processor configurations – are due next quarter, production versions later in the year, running a new version of OpenVME and single system image software with new disk and tape subsystems. ICL will use a Fujitsu implementation of Intel’s one- to-four way standard high volume PentiumPro board as the co- processor until Data General Corp delivers the UnixWare version of its own Audobon motherboard and SCI interconnect OEM kit for building ccNUMA servers with up to 32 processors. As well as a co-processor engine for SY, ICL will introduce a standalone series of UnixWare servers called Award, also based on the Data General technology. A uniprocessor version of SY called LY is also due – the two will supersede ICL’s Series 39 systems.
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