IBM rolls out five 64-bit Xeon servers

IBM on Monday rolled out a handful of beefed-up 64-bit Intel servers that feature a 2MB cache, adding 18 percent to the systems’ overall performance. The additions also contain support for two new technologies, namely Demand Based Switching (DBS) and Execute Disable Bit (XD).

The five updated models, part of IBM’s eServer xSeries and BladeCenter server lines, are fueled by Intel’s Xeon processors. The support for DBS and XD are intended to work hand in glove with a number of mainframe-like features already existing in xSeries servers, including IBM’s Calibrated Vectored Cooling and IBM’s Director set of management tools.

“We see these innovations from IBM and Intel as offering xSeries customers more control over their processing power,” commented Alex Yost, director of product marketing for IBM eServer xSeries. “As the need for smarter power use increases, we anticipate our customers needing solutions to help them manage their options and secure their systems against the threat of intrusion and instability,” Yost said.

DBS is intended to do a better job of managing processing power so as to reduce cooling costs in a datacenter. As one example, if a company’s e-mail application needed less power at night, DBS could automatically lower the utilization of that application, thereby lowering the server’s power consumption.

DBS is intended to complement IBM’s Calibrated Vectored Cooling, which serves to optimize a path of cooler air flow throughout a system. This results in using fewer fans and about two-thirds less power per system, according to a company spokesman. 

Big Blue plans to use the DBS technology in its upcoming Power Executive solution, which will provide advanced power management at the solution and rack level for both the xSeries and BladeCenter servers.

In addition to DBS, IBM officials said they plan to support the new Intel-inspired XD feature across its entire xSeries line in order to provide customers with higher levels of security. XD offers users virus protection from buffer overflow system security and worm attacks to prevent data loss.

IBM plans to make the new 64-bit Intel Xeon processors available on IBM eServer xSeries Models  x226, x236, x336, and x346 and on IBM BladeCenter HS20 by the end of February.