Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • 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
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • 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

    IBM Expands Blade Capabilities

    Written by

    Jeff Burt
    Published March 23, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      IBM is expanding the features of its BladeCenter platform, offering two new switch options and bundling VMware Inc.s virtualization technology into the systems.

      The moves, which IBM is announcing Wednesday at the Server Blade Summit, in Santa Clara, Calif., are the latest by the Armonk, N.Y., company to grow the capabilities of its blade systems through partnerships and to expand the ways enterprises can deploy them, said Tim Dougherty, director of BladeCenter.

      “This is the continued fulfillment of our promise of building the ecosystem [around BladeCenter],” Dougherty said.

      By bundling evaluation copies of VMwares technology, users will be able to test virtualization environments on the BladeCenter for six months, he said.

      The evaluation copies will include VMwares ESX Server, Virtual SMP—which enables a single virtual machine to span multiple processors—and VirtualCenter with VMotion. VirtualCenter is VMwares server management software; VMotion is for workload management.

      The VMware environment not only increases the resource utilization for enterprises, but also expands the management capabilities, Dougherty said.

      Brian Byun, vice president of alliances for VMware, said the Palo Alto, Calif., company works with most OEMs in their blade strategies, but IBM is the first to offer evaluation copies to all of its blade customers.

      “Over the past couple of years, we have found customers who have been combining the two [virtual machine technology with blades] are finding great synergies,” Byun said.

      Dean Health System Inc. began experimenting with running virtual machines on BladeCenter systems in October 2003. The result has been a server environment that is more efficient, manageable and cost-effective, officials said.

      “The rapid deployment of servers and the ability to allow us to do a lot more both with our production and development environments have helped out a lot,” said Carlo Bonura, technical system analyst with the Madison, Wis., company.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifIBM looks to “Nocona” to cool of blade servers. Click here to read more.

      Dean Health currently runs ESX virtual servers on two BladeCenters in its production environment and one in its development area, Bonura said. The combination of the two technologies also will play a role this year as the company enters the next phase of its server consolidation project.

      In addition, IBM is adding a SAN (storage area network) switch module co-developed by McData Corp. and QLogic Corp., the first product from a partnership between the two companies that was announced in November 2004.

      The embedded SAN switch will ease BladeCenter users connectivity into McData environments. IBM already embeds switches from QLogic and Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Dougherty said. Businesses want choices, he said.

      “What weve discovered going in is this is an integrated world, and customers have their chosen standard [technologies],” he said. “They want you to conform to them rather than having to conform to you.”

      The McData switch will be available in May.

      Next month, IBM also will offer the option of a new embedded Ethernet switch from Cisco Systems Inc. The Fiber Intelligent Switch Module will provide ports to users who want fiber Ethernet connectivity in their BladeCenter chassis.

      Again, this is a way of broadening user choice, Dougherty said, growing the Cisco options to include fiber as well as copper.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on servers, switches and networking protocols for the enterprise and small businesses.

      Jeff Burt
      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.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      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.
      © 2024 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.

      ×