IBM announces the world's fastest 8-way SMP server

IBM has announced the launch of the eServer pSeries 660 Model 6M1, the world's fastest 8-way symmetric multi-processor (SMP) server for commercial transaction processing, Web serving and Java processing. This latest addition to the powerful pSeries family of servers offers two to eight 750 MHz RS 64 IV copper-based, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) cache, and upto 64 GB of memory.

The mid-range pSeries 660 Model 6M1 system easily outpaces the competition. With a SPECjbb2000 result of 72,437 operations per second, an 8-way Model 6M1 is over 80 percent faster in processing Java applications than an 8-way HP 9000 N 4000. The 8-way Model 6M1 provides 8,145 simultaneous SPECweb99 connections, more than 90 percent of the Web serving performance of the higher priced 12-way SunFire4800.

This rack mountable server offers more than 1.5 times the commercial processing power of its predecessor RS/6000 Model M80 and provides a broad range of mainframe-inspired self-managing features. The built-in service processor monitors system operations and takes preventive or corrective action. Dynamic Processor Deallocation, working with AIX, automatically reassigns tasks for a potentially failing processor, so that applications continue to run. Hot plug PCI slots and redundant hot plug power and cooling fans allow concurrent maintenance without interrupting options.

"Unix solutions from IBM merely begin with high performance, cost effective products designed with the latest hardware and software technologies. Like all pSeries servers, the pSeries 660 Model 6M1 is supported by the IBM eServer advantage offerings, which provide complete solutions for every aspect of our customers' IT requirements", says Basu Hurkadli, Country Manager, System Sales, IBM India Ltd.

The pSeries 660 Model 6M1's rugged design meets the rigid Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 3 standards, which is a requirement in the telecommunications industry designed to withstand harsh environments including earthquakes, high temperatures and high humidity. It is loaded with mainframe-inspired features that maximize availability. The built-in service processor monitors system operations and takes preventive or corrective action. For companies seeking the ultimate in high availability, the pSeries 660 Model 6M1 High Availability Cluster Solution provides the required hardware for system redundancy and the configuration options to tailor it to individual needs. Using IBM's award-winning HACMP software, customers can deploy the pSeries servers in a near fault-tolerant environment to support their mission-critical business applications.

To help customers manage the rapidly changing demands of today's e-business environments, the pSeries 660 Model 6M1 offers CUoD. For a fee, eight processors may be installed with two or four processors initially disabled, only to be enabled when the need for additional capacity arises. To further enable the full optimization of systems resources, AIX Workload Manager ensures that system resources are allocated to accommodate the newly activated processors. Prices for the pSeries 660 Model 6M1 would start at around Rs 20,00,000.

(CNS)