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
Subscribe
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
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News
    • Servers

    New IBM Flex Systems Aim for Greater Density, Performance

    Written by

    Jeff Burt
    Published August 6, 2013
    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 officials are unveiling new Power- and x86-based servers to the company’s Flex System lineup to help enterprises and service providers that are shifting more workloads to the cloud to consolidate their data center infrastructures while making them higher performing and more scalable.

      The company is offering three new systems that run on its Power 7+ processors and a fourth system, the x222, powered by x86 chips. In addition, IBM has enhanced its Flex System Manager to enable organizations to manage as many as 5,000 infrastructure end points from any location via Apple iOS, Google Android or BlackBerry mobile devices, and is announcing new networking switches and fabrics that increase bandwidth up to 40Gbits, which not only improves connectivity and performance but also helps in the deployment of software-defined networks (SDNs).

      IBM is driving Flex System to meet the demand from organizations or the ability to do more in smaller data centers in their increasingly cloud-based and virtualized environments, Jeff Howard, IBM’s vice president for Flex System and PureFlex, told eWEEK. It also comes at a time when organizations are rapidly moving more workloads to the cloud.

      Pointing to a Morgan Stanley report, Howard said that by next year, businesses will be running 62 percent of their database workloads in the cloud. With the new offerings, IBM wants to enable organizations to essentially put more capabilities—from compute to storage to memory to processing power—into the Flex System 10U (17.5-inch) chassis, Howard said. Businesses and service providers will more easily run and manage more workloads in the cloud.

      The new Power 7+ compute nodes address the needs of businesses and managed service providers both large and small. The Flex System p460 is a full-width compute module that is aimed at large high-end workloads that demand single-threaded computing, such as databases, which are increasingly finding their way into the cloud, according to Howard. The system will run up to four eight-core Power 7+ chips.

      At the same time, the p270—with two six-core Power7+ chips running at either 3.1GHz or 3.4GHz—can process workloads that need multi-threaded performance, such data analytics, Web serving and technical computing. The entry-level p260 node is targeting IBM i workloads, making it easier for smaller businesses to make the transition into the Flex System environment, Howard said.

      In the x86 space, the x222 will be able to run two Xeon E5 chips from Intel in each socket, which will mean the ability to run 28 processors in a single rack chassis. It will work well in virtualized environments, including virtual desktop infrastructures, he said. Each 10U chassis will be able to run 2,800 Windows 7 virtualized desktop images.

      IBM was able to optimize the density of the x222 by engineering a design where the system opens in a clamshell fashion, with one module in the lid and another in the other section, Howard said.

      All four servers will be available in September.

      The upgraded Flex System Manager software gives users a centralized way to manage the system and deploy virtual machines. In addition, it offers a “fuel gauge” to let users know how much of the management capability they are using and how much more they have to go before they need to add more capacity. In addition, through the enhanced software, organizations can now manage IBM’s System x3950, which is optimized for SAP HANA in-memory database environments.

      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.