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Stretching its virtualization technology across new storage boundaries and platform support, IBM on Monday announced a new virtualization partner program and a range of new virtualization engine offerings designed to drastically reduce complexity and IT management.
IBM will release its new IBM Virtualization TS7510.
The virtualized tape for Open Systems will extend connection support toward Unix and Intel servers.
Existing support includes traditional storage libraries, LTO libraries, as well as anything that runs Microsoft Windows and Linux including zLinux.
The product enables better utilization of a tape library by sharing of tape sources as part of an integrated disk and tape infrastructure, said officials at Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM.
Available on Oct. 28, a single node and entry 5TB configuration for IBM Virtualization TS7510 starts at roughly $175,000, and a dual node or maximum 46TB configuration starts at around $695,000.
IBM also announced plans regarding IBM TotalStorage SVC (SAN Volume Controller) Version 3.1.
The eighth version of the storage virtualization product features four times an increased amount of service it can support up from 256 servers to 1024 servers.
The boost in power is designed to enable SVC to operate for bigger storage pools within enterprise environments.
Other enhancements to SVC 3.1 include disk copy services capability within the arrays and added support for zLinux and Sun Microsystems Inc.s clusters.
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The product will be generally available next month. Pricing starts at $43,000 for a base configuration.
For its switch architecture, IBM announced it will enhance the virtualization capabilities within its xSeries server line via new IBM ACT (Advanced Cabling Technology) family of KVM switches which allow users to virtually manage servers.
Pushing centralized control, IBM ACT switches feature Virtual Media support designed to help customers install or upgrade software remotely through an Ethernet connection.
The new IBM ACT switches are available to order immediately with U.S. pricing starting at $1,999.
IBM is lending a virtualization hand to its ISV (independent software vendors) partners by unveiling its new “Ready for Virtualizaton” program.
The program enables ISVs to test and validate their virtualization software and applications by running them on IBMs eServer platforms.
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