Rackable Systems introduces hardware-based virtualization with its MicroSlice architecture

One of the concepts that have made server virtualization so popular over the years is the notion of server consolidation. That is, being able to slice a single physical machine into multiple virtual machines in order to increase overall usage and efficiency of the server.

Now, Rackable Systems has announced the launch of a new portfolio of servers based on low-cost desktop components. These machines are based on the company’s new MicroSlice architecture, which the company says eliminates the need for costly virtualization software and sets a new standard price performance per watt. Rackable is calling this “physicalization,” a hardware-based approach to virtualization to improve the total cost of ownership.

These new MicroSlice systems use AMD desktop processors and AMD small-form-factor Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards to pack as much processing power into each machine as possible. At a price point starting at under $500, the company says it can get up to 264 compute nodes per cabinet and draw as little as 72 watts per node.

These systems seem to be perfectly designed for workloads such as Web serving, print and file serving, running search engine algorithms, and powering cloud services.

“The new MicroSlice architecture is radical; we eliminated the need for virtualization software and set new density standards with 264 servers per cabinet,” said Mark Barrenechea, president and CEO of Rackable Systems. “Our MicroSlice-enabled products are timely in this economic climate, allowing datacenter budgets to go twice as far.”

Rackable’s new systems are certified for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, and also with Linux distributions from both Red Hat and Novell. The company said that the AMD-based machines are already available, but if you are looking for Intel-based machines, they will have them available sometime this quarter.

In addition to going up against a number of virtualization vendors, Rackable must also contend with convincing organizations that they should change their hardware architecture standards. Either situation could prove difficult to accomplish.