IBM rolls out fastest Unix box

IBM on Tuesday plans to push the high end of its eServer p690 server line higher, rolling out a system containing a 1.9 GHz Power processor and capable of holding as much as a terabyte of memory.

Expected to ship on March 5, the system, which contains the company’s MultiChip Module, can be configured as either an 8-, 16-, or 32-way system. In the 8-way configuration the system has a 4-way 1.9GHz Capacity Upgrade On Demand processor that can be activated either temporarily or permanently so it can better adapt to sometimes quickly changing workloads.

Capacity On Demand configurations in the p690 however, demand that corporate users have at least eight active processors installed and working.

Like the other members of the p690 family, the latest addition is expected to go up against similar Unix- and Linux-based server offerings of Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard.

The new model’s basic features include a 128MB Level 3 Cache, the ability to take memory cards in increments of between 4MB and 128MB of memory, and two-loop and four-loop Remote I/O-2 adapter that allow for the connection of 7040-61D I/O Expansion Drawers.

IBM has also added the 2 Link and 4 Link Switch Network Interface (SNI) adapters for attaching the new system to the company’s High Performance Switch support for 1.9GHz processors.

Most features of the new system will be available on March 5, with the exception of the 1.9GHz processor that is used with the 2 Link or 4 Link SNI adapters, which will be April 30, and the 128GB 633MHz memory cards, which are available June 25.

IBM also said it was lowering the list prices for most models in its pSeries p650, p670, and p690 configurations from 8 to 20 percent depending on the ability for clients to place orders with IBM for certain distributions of Linux with the p690. Prior to this, this capability was offered only with new p615, p670 or p650 Linux-ready Express configurations, a company spokesman said.

In related news, IBM announced that the Juelich Research Center has signed a deal to buy 41 p690 servers that are expected to serve as the heart of its most capable supercomputer based in Europe.