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IBM Changes Economics Of UNIX Computing

IBM changed UNIX computing with the introduction of new eServer p5 systems, an advanced line of UNIX and Linux servers that use POWER5 microprocessors and Micro-Partitioning, an IBM Virtualization Engine technology, to achieve unprecedented computing performance and reduced costs for a wide range of business and scientific applications. The new eServer p5 systems are the result of a large-scale, three-year research and development effort at IBM extending beyond traditional UNIX servers with mainframe-inspired features that are designed to help businesses thrive by providing higher utilization, massive performance, greater flexibility and lower IT management costs.

The new IBM eServer p5 systems, based on the POWER 5 microprocessor, give clients choices of implementing different solutions -- ranging from a 2-way server to a 16-way server -- all leveraging the industry standard Power Architecture and designed to deliver the most potent performance and scalability ever available on the entry and midrange UNIX platform, according to widely used industry benchmarks.

Using as few as one fourth the number of processors, eServer p5 systems outperform HP servers in the significant Transaction Processing Performance Council's TPC-C benchmark test. The new eServer p5 systems shattered world records for select transaction processing, Web speed, Java performance and other business applications beyond expectations, in some cases beating HP's and Sun's performances by two and three times. Additionally, the new IBM systems are designed to save customers significant IT costs.

"Today, IBM is heralding the next generation in the UNIX industry, marked by extreme performance, efficiency and flexibility," said Adalio Sanchez, general manager of IBM eServer pSeries. "We've invested tremendously in new technologies, like the POWER5 microprocessor and the Micro-Partitioning technology in the IBM Virtualization Engine, derived from 40 years of mainframe innovations. This will transform the technology landscape and economics of owning and running UNIX systems. Our new UNIX systems will allow businesses to respond quickly to changing market conditions in the on demand era."

In the new computing era, client demand will shift towards systems that offer breakthrough tools like the Micro-Partitioning technology in IBM's Virtualization Engine, which is designed to significantly improve utilization and reduce IT costs. The new eServer p5 systems are the first UNIX systems designed to enable clients to run multiple (up to 10) virtual servers or Micro-Partitions on a single microprocessor letting it do the work traditionally done by many. This allows businesses to better utilize processors and automatically balance processor partitions in less than one second to meet changing on demand business needs. IBM eServer p5 systems allow for exceptional server consolidation and mixed workloads on a single system by giving businesses the capability to run multiple different operating systems simultaneously.

The new AIX 5L V5.3 operating system also enables clients to reduce costs by taking advantage of mainframe inspired characteristics in reliability, scalability and business continuity.

IBM Power Architecture technology has seen remarkable revenue growth since the introduction of the POWER4 microprocessor in 2001, and is now an industry leading 64-bit architecture. IBM has grown its UNIX server share more than any other vendor in each of the last 8 quarters, according to IDC. According to IDC, in Q104, IBM was the fastest growing UNIX server vendor and compared to Sun and HP, was the only major vendor to grow UNIX revenue year to year, gaining 15 percent of revenue share, while Sun and HP both lost UNIX revenue share. IBM's new p5 servers are completely compatible with the current server generation, the eServer pSeries, and provide customers with a seamless transition to the new generation.

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