Muscle-Rippling 16-Way Server From IBM

IBM reinforced its commitment to highly scalable Intel-based servers Wednesday with the launch of an x440 server than can run up to 16 Xeon MP processors. While 16-way, 32-bit Windows servers are hard to come by--Unisys Corp. is the only other significant vendor to sell one--IBM says it's paving a migration path for customers looking to grow into larger Windows environments.

IBM expects the 16-way x440, which starts at about $100,000 with the Windows operating system included, to appeal to IT departments with a strong set of Microsoft skills that want to use Windows on the back end. "If you've got a shop that grew up on Windows, you're not going to sell them on a RISC-based back end," says Jay Bretzmann, director of IBM eServer xSeries.

Bretzmann says the new server is likely to be used as a large Intel-based server that can consolidate smaller Intel-based servers, simplifying management and conserving floor space. It's also a good fit as a large database server that will let companies get more use out of their DB2, Oracle, or SQL licenses. IBM also sees a role for it as a way to run a variety of ERP apps from the same vendor on the same Windows-based server.

The x440 series is designed to be modular and scalable, allowing users to add processors after purchase. Early next quarter, IBM will begin selling an upgrade kit for eight-way x440 servers that includes a second eight-way x440 and cabling to connect the two servers.

Unisys makes the ES7000 Aries 230, which scales up to 16 Xeon MP processors and can be partitioned into two independent systems. Unisys says the Aries 230 starts at about $75,000. Neither Hewlett-Packard nor Dell Computer sells 16-way Intel-based servers. "HP strongly believes that beyond eight processors, for customers to achieve price and performance scalability, servers require Intel Itanium technology," a spokesman for HP says. HP has no plans to sell a Xeon-based 16-way server.

The new x440 is a mixed bag, Illuminata analyst Gordon Haff says. By offering a 16-way Windows server, IBM knows there are a lot of applications available and that many IT shops already have the skills to manage such a system. "The single most compelling argument in favor of a big-iron Windows server is that you have a common environment for your Windows applications, which ensures the interoperability of management tools and IT skills," Haff says. On the downside, a 16-way Intel-based server runs contrary to the current trend of scaling out with blades or rack-mounted servers. "For most applications, you don't need one big Windows server."