ARMONK, N.Y., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/
-- IBM
(NYSE: IBM) today introduced new IBM PowerLinux Systems and
Solutions to help customers exploit the cost efficiency of Linux
and virtualization for business-critical workloads. IBM PowerLinux
Solutions offer deep integration of new Linux-specific POWER7
processor-based hardware with industry-standard Linux software from
Red Hat and SUSE for analyzing Big Data, managing industry-specific
applications and delivering open source infrastructure
services.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO)
The new IBM PowerLinux Solutions are more affordable for
businesses of all sizes with the introduction of two new
Linux-specific servers: a system for the recently announced IBM
PureFlex System, part of the new IBM PureSystems family of systems with integrated
expertise; as well as a standalone high-performance,
energy-efficient IBM PowerLinux System that is value-priced for the
mid market and above.
The new PowerLinux Solutions and supporting systems are designed
to provide customers with lower deployment time and costs, and
greater performance, dependability and workload density than
competitive x86 platforms at similar price points. This extends the
ability for IBM to address customers' Linux application needs more
effectively, just as it does for UNIX (AIX) and IBM i application
requirements with Power Systems.
IBM is offering the new integrated and workload-optimized
PowerLinux Solutions in conjunction with its ISV and OEM partners,
starting with three specific Linux-centric workloads. IBM
PowerLinux Solutions are designed to match each workload's specific
performance requirements, offering customers a simpler Linux-based
IT environment that can help reduce infrastructure costs and aide
in freeing IT staff to focus on bringing innovative products and
services to market faster.
"Our tests have shown excellent performance results for
Zucchetti human resources and ERP industry application software
running on the new PowerLinux Systems – an improvement of at
least 40 percent compared to Linux machines based on Intel x86,"
said Alberto Cazzulani, HR Business Unit Technologies &
Services Manager for Zucchetti Group, a leading provider of
software and technology solutions with more than 450,000
installations and 85,000 clients.
By basing the new solutions on lower cost Linux-specific Power
Systems and PowerVM for Linux virtualization technology, IBM can
help provide more value to customers at a lower cost than others
offering Linux on other commodity x86 servers. In addition,
replacing aging x86-based Windows servers with PowerLinux Systems
and utilizing open source applications, clients may further reduce
costs by reducing or eliminating high proprietary software license
fees and upgrade charges.
"With PowerLinux, IBM has made a real conscious effort to lower
the acquisition price for customers who have wanted to take
advantage of POWER to run their Linux environments," said
Andy Lin, Solutions Consultant, Mark
III Systems. "So now clients who perhaps would not have looked at
IBM systems in the past are saying, 'This is actually a really good
idea – this is very compelling for us.' That not only
represents an opportunity for the greater IBM, but as an IBM
Premier Business Partner, it's a tremendous opportunity for Mark
III Systems as well."
University of Hamburg Improves System Performance At
Lower Cost
IBM is working with customers across a number of
industries and geographies to help improve the performance of their
Linux-based applications and services, including the University of
Hamburg. As a participant in
PHYsnet.org, the worldwide scientific data exchange, the University
of Hamburg wanted to improve the
performance levels of its existing PHYSnet servers without
investing in large numbers of physical servers for its Physics
research lab.
By implementing a virtual distributed configuration for its
OpenAFS file system using two IBM PowerLinux 7R2 systems running 10
virtual Linux servers using the new IBM PowerVM for PowerLinux, the
university was able to improve file serving performance by 50
percent at 30 percent less cost than the competing Intel x86-based
systems option.
"IBM PowerLinux is the best option for running OpenAFS as it can
handle the high I/O requirements of the system and delivers the
throughput needed to quickly access files," said Bodo Krause-Kyora,
Head of Systems and Deputy Director, PHYSnet, for University of
Hamburg. "We would have needed to
purchase significantly more Intel-based systems to achieve the same
levels of file serving performance that we do with just two IBM
PowerLinux servers."
Three Workload-Optimized PowerLinux Solution
Editions
As customers find their business needs are
increasingly addressable with open source software, they still face
the challenge of maintaining the quality of service and reliability
previously achieved with proprietary software solutions. By
leveraging the self-healing and self-managing capabilities of
POWER7 systems, customers can confidently run one or many highly
scalable, reliable and flexible industry-standard Linux
environments. The three new PowerLinux Solutions include:
- IBM PowerLinux Big Data Analytics Solution
Smarter
companies are thinking differently about how to deal with Big Data
that is growing exponentially within their organizations. To meet
this challenge, many are deploying Linux-based IT infrastructures
designed to capably handle both structured and unstructured data,
making it easier to capture, manage and analyze information to
drive better-informed business decisions.
The highly threaded, parallel processing capabilities of IBM
PowerLinux Systems provide optimal compute and I/O performance for
Big Data analytics projects using Apache Hadoop, a software
framework that enables distributed processing of large data sets
across clusters of computers. IBM OEM partner Fixstars is planning
to deliver a Hadoop-based appliance for Big Data based on IBM
PowerLinux Systems for the SMB market in 2012.
PowerLinux Systems also help businesses cost-effectively
gain new insights from Big Data with IBM solutions, such as IBM
InfoSphere BigInsights software that enables organizations to
analyze a variety of Big Data information sources. InfoSphere
BigInsights, will be generally available for PowerLinux Systems on
June 15. IBM InfoSphere Streams
software for PowerLinux, which analyzes data-in-motion, is
available immediately.
The deep integration and optimization of analytics
workload performance on IBM PowerLinux Systems enables businesses
to run thousands of tasks in parallel to deliver analytics services
faster, such as analyzing historical credit card data to help
improve real-time fraud detection or examining social media in real
time to better understand brand sentiment among
customers.
- IBM PowerLinux Industry Application Solution
More
companies are relying on Linux for business applications that are
designed for their industry and tuned for specific business needs.
IBM PowerLinux Systems provide a highly secure, resilient and fully
integrated platform stack for industry applications, providing
smoother implementation enabling faster time-to-delivery for new,
differentiating services with less downtime.
With offerings like the IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP
Applications, midsize IT shops can deliver these services at a
lower cost per workload with high quality compared to x86 commodity
servers running Windows or Linux. Additional ISVs like Zucchetti
Group are planning to provide pre-integrated, tested and validated
solutions tailored for their local regions across a variety of
industries.
- IBM PowerLinux Open Source Infrastructure Services
Solution
PowerLinux Systems offer cost-effective control
over server and virtual image sprawl with the addition of the new
PowerVM for PowerLinux virtualization technology. With fewer
servers to manage, businesses can deliver services such as web,
email and social business collaboration more cost effectively by
using PowerLinux Systems as the foundation for flexible open
source-based software delivery. Integrated, tuned and tested so
everything works together, PowerLinux Systems offer highly secure
and scalable virtualization of business infrastructure
services.
"As CIOs seek to transform their IT department from a cost
center to a strategic asset, many have a misconception that
deploying Linux on x86 servers equipped with VMware software is
their only option for taking advantage of open source
applications," said Colin Parris,
General Manager, IBM Power Systems. "Serving the Linux market with
Power Systems is an important initiative for IBM. With IBM
PowerLinux solutions and systems, customers now have powerful,
cost-effective alternatives, as well as a broad ecosystem of
support from our global partners to get the right
solution—hardware, software and services—for virtually
any business requirement."
Built on New Linux-Specific Servers
The new IBM
PowerLinux Solutions are more affordable for businesses of all
sizes with the introduction of two new Linux-specific servers:
- IBM Flex System p24L Compute Node – Linux-specific
two-socket server for the recently announced IBM PureFlex System
which contains 12 or 16 POWER7 microprocessor cores, option of Red
Hat Enterprise Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating
systems, and built-in PowerVM for PowerLinux. The new
PowerLinux-specific server is supported in the PureFlex System
Express, Standard and Enterprise configurations.
- IBM PowerLinux 7R2 System – A two-socket,
high-performance, energy-efficient rack server that supports 16
POWER7 microprocessor cores and a choice of industry standard Linux
operating systems – Red Hat Enterprise Linux or SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server. Scalable and efficient with a built-in PowerVM
for PowerLinux hypervisor, the PowerLinux 7R2 System can run
multiple Linux workloads, offering a potentially lower solution
stack cost for virtualized infrastructure.
Financing
IBM Global Financing provides flexible
financing options for clients to acquire the new PowerLinux systems
and lower their total cost of ownership. For example,
credit-qualified clients(1) can acquire the 128GB/3.6TB PowerLinux
7R2 System for $400 per month with
nothing down with a 36-month lease. IBM Global Financing enables
clients to manage budgets more easily with predictable payments and
to reduce the risk of IT technology obsolescence with options to
upgrade at mid or end of lease. Thousands of clients globally
already experience the advantages of financing their Power Systems
solutions.
Since 2000, Linux had held a strategically significant position
within the IBM systems portfolio and IBM has invested more than a
billion dollars into the Linux movement to date. IBM is
traditionally among the top commercial contributors of Linux code
with more than 600 IBMers involved in more than 100 open source
projects. Built on industry-standard Linux, open source and IBM
software, IBM PowerLinux Solutions are designed to help customers
make better business decisions and assist them to operate more
efficiently.
For more information on IBM PowerLinux Solutions, visit www.ibm.com/power/powerlinux
(1) IBM Global Financing offerings are provided through IBM
Credit LLC in the United States
and other IBM subsidiaries and divisions worldwide to qualified
commercial and government customers. Minimum transaction size
$5,000, rates are based on a
customer's credit rating, financing terms, offering type, equipment
type and options, and may vary by country. Other restrictions may
apply. Rates and offerings are subject to change, extension or
withdrawal without notice. Example based on a 36 month lease for a
PowerLinux 7R2 rack server configured with 128GB memory and 3.6TB
total hard drive storage, RHEL (includes open source workload
packages), and IBM PowerVM for IBM PowerLinux.
IBM, InfoSphere, Power Systems, PowerLinux, PowerVM, PureFlex
and PureSystems are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation in
the United States and/or other
countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in
the United States, other
countries, or both. Apache Hadoop and Hadoop are trademarks of the
Apache Software Foundation. All other company/product names and
service marks may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
Contact
Tracy
Sullivan
IBM Media Relations
+1 617-693-0021
tsulliva@us.ibm.com
SOURCE IBM