Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • 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
  • 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 Development
    • Development
    • Networking
    • PC Hardware

    IBM Expands Virtual Loans to Include Blades

    By
    Scott Ferguson
    -
    December 7, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      IBM is expanding its Virtual Loaner program to include its BladeCenter blade servers.

      The Armonk, N.Y., company on Dec. 7 announced that it would expand the program, which gives ISVs and developers access to IBM technology such as its System I and System P servers. The program also allows application development for open-source platforms such as AIX, Linux and Power5.

      Through a secure Web portal, IBMs business partners can access the hardware in its Dallas data center, with which they can conduct application testing, debugging, replication of customer problems, or evaluations of IBMs hardware, operating systems and middleware, said Scott Tease, worldwide product manager for IBMs BladeCenter.

      “There are so many people designing applications for, on top [of] and around BladeCenter servers that its hard to keep up with the request for hardware,” Tease said. “This program allows us to give access to these people without sending the physical hardware. Through this program, developers and partners can have access to both the systems and the full suite of software.”

      Tease said IBM would begin giving partners access to other x86 servers by the end of 2006.

      When the expanded program launches, developers will have access to IBMs BladeCenter LS20 dual-socket blades, which are powered by Advanced Micro Devices Opteron processors, and the HS20 dual-socket blades, which use Intels Xeon processors. Later, IBM can add its JS20 series of blades, which use the companys own PowerPC processors, Tease said.

      In recent surveys by IDC and Gartner, the research firms found that the overall server market had grown in the third quarter of 2006 and much of that growth was fueled by blade servers. In the same report, IDC reported that IBM had topped Hewlett-Packard in terms of blade revenue and held nearly 43 percent of the market.

      /zimages/6/28571.gifClick here to read more about how the server market shaped up in the third quarter.

      Taking into account these numbers and the overall acceptance of blades within IT departments, Tease said the next logical step of the loaner program had to involve the BladeCenter platform.

      IBM has also made no secret of its plans to go after HP and Dell in the blade server space, announcing on Sept. 20 new incentives for customers.

      In addition to its loaner program, IBM since 2004 has developed its Innovation Center for Hardware, which helps developers and ISVs.

      IBM claims to have about 100,000 business partners, which includes about 60,000 ISVs. In addition, about 80 partners are members of Blade.org, which invites vendors to build solutions on BladeCenter hardware. In 2006, IBM received requests from about 500 partners for access to its equipment through the loaner program.

      Tease said the newly expanded loaner program will be a boon not just to IBMs partners, but also to the companys more traditional channel program, especially among resellers.

      “If they are having [trouble with] customers programs and cant get the same configurations, they can turn to the virtual loaner pool and run a replication and troubleshoot from there,” Tease said.

      /zimages/6/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on servers, switches and networking protocols for the enterprise and small businesses.

      Scott Ferguson
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      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
      Applications

      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
      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
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      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.
      © 2022 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.

      ×