IBM Introduces New Dedicated Linux Servers

IBM Introduces New Dedicated Linux Servers

Company Debuts First-Of-Its-Kind Linux-Only Mainframe

Armonk, N.Y. - 25 Jan 2002: IBM today announced plans to deliver two new dedicated Linux servers, including a first-of-its-kind Linux-only mainframe that requires no traditional mainframe operating system experience.

The IBM eServer zSeries offering for Linux consolidates from 20 to hundreds of Sun and Intel servers, bringing the superior total cost of ownership and bullet-proof performance and security of the IBM mainframe to an entirely new class of customers. The announcement follows a year of remarkable growth and interest in Linux on the mainframe at IBM, as the eServer zSeries became the fastest growing platform in the industry and the only server platform to chalk up five consecutive quarters of growth.

IBM also announced plans to deliver an aggressively priced, easy-to-manage Linux server specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. The IBM eServer iSeries offering for Linux uses IBM's advanced "partitioning" technology to help customers to reduce cost and complexity by consolidating up to 15 standalone Linux and Windows servers onto a single physical server. It supports the SuSE and Turbolinux distributions of Linux and includes an installation wizard for rapid deployment. Both servers are intended for infrastructure applications such as firewall, Web serving, file and print serving, and mail serving and are expected to be available in the first quarter of this year.

"These new Linux servers answer the call of every customer who is serious about reducing server sprawl and dramatically improving their total cost of ownership," said Bill Zeitler, senior vice president and group executive, IBM eServer. "Companies large and small are turning to 'virtual' Linux servers to save 'real' dollars as they gain better control over their e-business infrastructure."

Running IBM's industry leading z/VM virtualization technology, the eServer zSeries offering for Linux offers an ideal platform for server consolidation, utilizing the mainframe's ability to create as few as 20 and up to hundreds of virtual Linux servers on a single physical box, saving customers substantially on energy, floor space, and maintenance expense.

IBM offers the industry's broadest support of Linux, with its leading middleware supporting both new servers. Linux services available from IBM Global Services include:

A comprehensive package of Linux consolidation services to help customers consolidate multiple Intel servers on a single IBM platform;

Linux Support Line, which provides comprehensive around-the-clock enterprise-level remote usage and defect support for major distributions of the Linux operating system as well as all IBM and many non-IBM applications that operate in a Linux environment; and

Locally Delivered Services, including Linux Rapid Deployment solutions, providing the installation of Linux, the installation, set up and enablement of TCP/IP and the installation and configuration of Samba or Apache.

About IBM eServer
IBM is the number one server company in the world, offering a full line of data transaction, web application and appliance servers that embrace industry standards. Powered by breakthroughs such as microprocessors with copper wiring and Silicon-on-Insulator technology, IBM servers have captured industry leading benchmarks that measure transactions, web serving capabilities and performance in software applications. The IBM eServer line is an integral part of customized, flexible and scalable Internet solutions for companies of all sizes. IBM supports Linux on its entire portfolio of e-business servers.

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Information on IBM eServer is available at http://www.ibm.com/eserver.

IBM news releases and fact sheets are available at http://www.ibm.com.

The IBM eServer brand consists of the established IBM e-business logo with the following descriptive term "server" following it.

The following are either trademarks or registered of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both: IBM, the IBM e-business logo, iSeries, zSeries and z/VM.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

All others are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.