Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    Cheap Server Bundles Bring Flexibility to SMBs

    By
    Jeff Burt
    -
    October 25, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Server makers are continuing to roll out combinations of bundled software and services and scaled-down hardware to give SMBs (small and midsize businesses) the technology they need at a price they can afford.

      Hewlett-Packard Co. this week is rolling out the newest of its entry-level ProLiant servers, which offer the latest Intel Corp. chips and scalability features, as well as optional remote management capabilities. For its part, IBM last week unveiled a new chassis for its BladeCenter systems that costs less than half the price of a traditional chassis.

      HP officials said despite their small IT staffs and tight budgets, SMBs know what technology they need and what it should cost.

      “A fair number of SMBs are [growing in their understanding of technology],” said Vince Gayman, director of product solutions for HPs SMB unit.

      “But clearly their channel partners are [knowledgeable about the technology]. If were not refreshing and keeping our technology up-to-date, theyll know.”

      Just weeks after hosting an SMB event in New York, HP, of Palo Alto, Calif., this week will unveil the ProLiant ML150, a two-way system powered by Intels “Nocona” Xeon chip—which can run 64-bit and 32-bit software—and running the “Lindenhurst” chip set.

      The server—which will ship next month with pricing starting at $1,129— features six I/O adapter cards and hard drives and four memory slots. It also includes as an option Lights-Out 100 Remote Management, a card designed for the ML100 series.

      What it doesnt include are features more in demand from larger customers, including advanced cluster capabilities, redundant memory and hot-plug PCI.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifVendors at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo kept small and midsized businesses in mind. Click here to read more.

      Brian Clayton, manager of IS at the Dayton, Ohio, law firm Sebaly Shillito & Dyer, is considering the ML150 to help attorneys at trial handle documents and evidence.

      “In many trials, we have upward of 300,000 documents,” Clayton said. “[With the ML150], we could image each document and base number it for trial. We could put it all on the ML150 and take it to court and set up a mini-network on our side of the courtroom.”

      Rather than have to dig through reams of documents, the lawyers could put the evidence on a projector for the jury to see, he said. “Im going to get the speed of a [server] in the courtroom, and I dont need the high-end capabilities I currently have on my [ProLiant] DL360 and ML370,” Clayton said.

      IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., next month will start rolling out the new chassis for its BladeCenter blade systems, said Juhi Jotwani, director of IBMs BladeCenter Alliance Program. The new chassis will hold all current blade servers, but IBM removed such features as the floppy drive, redundant management module and support for Fibre Channel, technology that SMBs dont normally need, Jotwani said. That helped IBM lower the price of the new chassis to about $1,000. The traditional chassis costs about $2,500, she said.

      IBM also launched what officials are calling Business-in-a-Box offerings, which, essentially, are reference architectures designed for BladeCenter systems and aimed at easing the installation and deployment of a blade server environment.

      IBM is also rolling out new services around its blade systems, including one offering, SMBs on-site technical support, to help with the installation of its hardware and Director management software.

      Targeting SMBs is important to IBM, which says that 30 percent of its BladeCenter customers have between 100 and 500 employees.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Infrastructure Center for the latest news, views and analysis on servers, switches and networking protocols for the enterprise and small businesses.

      Jeff Burt
      Jeffrey Burt has been with eWEEK since 2000, covering an array of areas that includes servers, networking, PCs, processors, converged infrastructure, unified communications and the Internet of things.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×