IBM Previews Technology Blueprint For Netfinity Server Line
New Architecture Will Bring Enterprise Power To Windows NT
LAS VEGAS (September 09, 1998) – IBM today announced a new hardware blueprint for its Netfinity line of servers, providing a long-term view of the powerful technology that will form the cornerstone of the company’s systems running Microsoft Windows NT.
Among the key elements outlined in the IBM blueprint are clustering, enterprise-class reliability/availability, FibreChannel enterprise storage and how IBM will leverage other significant aspects of its enterprise systems heritage for Netfinity servers that run Windows NT. The new blueprint is being unveiled here at Microsoft’s first-ever Business Applications Conference, attended by 3,000 developers, systems integrators and systems architects.
“Netfinity server technology will be designed to give users the ability to generate and deliver information faster, store far more data, and work more easily in diverse system environments,” said Tom Bradicich, IBM Director of Architecture & Technology, who is presenting the brief at the conference. “IBM will continue to provide users with enterprise-class server power in the Netfinity line.”
“The Netfinity architecture will help seamlessly integrate Windows NT applications with legacy systems,” said James Utzschneider, director of line of business evangelism at Microsoft. “Users will have better access to information, with the ability to put it to work quickly. This fits with Microsoft’s vision of integrating applications in order to improve business effectiveness and responsiveness to customers.”Featured in the Netfinity technology blueprint are these and other key elements:
Enterprise Connectivity/Interoperability — IBM’s new ESCON Channel Adapter creates a high-speed link between Netfinity-powered networks and enterprise data stored on an IBM S/390. This is a reliable, cost-effective way to connect mainframes to Windows NT clients, providing essential data for applications from electronic commerce to business intelligence. Current plans are to introduce the ESCON Adapter in Fall,1998.
Clustering Leadership — Multi-node Netfinity server clusters will be able to use interconnect technology from the RS/6000 SP, a high-bandwidth, low-latency switch system. Cluster system management improvements in 1999 are expected to include single point-of-control for Netfinity and RS/6000 SP users and ultimately allow direct Netfinity cluster attachment to an RS/6000 SP cluster through an SP switch interconnect.
OnForever — IBM will embark on an initiative designed to take Windows NT computing toward continuous, enterprise-class availability. OnForever is intended to extend the high-availabilty capabilities of Hot-Plug PCI to processors and memory and provide on-line, real-time system diagnostics.
Application of IA64 Architecture — IBM’s designers from enterprise, high-end lines are developing the chipset for Netfinity servers’ Merced 8-way symmetric multiprocessor, incorporating new features currently available only in large enterprise systems. The chipsets will contain copper wiring, improving performance of critical system components.
Commercially viable Silicon On Insulator (SOI) — Chipsets using SOI technology can deliver higher speed and performance properties, at the same voltage power level as chipsets based on bulk silicon technology used in current systems. Also, glass ceramic chip carriers will be incorporated into Netfinity servers, allowing more processing to take place on the chip and enabling faster communication between chips, with no increase in heat and electricity used.
Expanded, More Reliable Memory — IBM plans to expand Netfinity servers’ memory, delivering high-availability memory technology that includes chip kill correction, memory mirroring, and enhanced lightpath fault-location.
More BandWidth — The newest Netfinity servers will support 64-bit PCI, used by the ServeRAID-3 and Netfinity Fibre Channel subsystems to support data rates up to 264 MBps. Netfinity Fibre Channel subsystems will scale up to hundreds of terabytes of storage, 100-MBps throughput, over a distance of up to six miles between the server and disk storage. Additionally, IBM is working toward enhancing the PCI bus standard even further, providing faster bandwidth.
In addition, future disk storage systems will support attachment of disk storage to high-bandwidth System Area Networks, used to support scalable application cluster configurations.
IBM Netfinity family
The IBM Netfinity family of servers enables small, medium and large companies to manage their networked business systems — from file and print capabilities to advanced applications — virtually anytime, anywhere. IBM Netfinity products provide customers using industry-standard technologies with a reliable foundation for their networked businesses by delivering outstanding power, scalability, control and service. Software from IBM (such as DB2, MQ and TX series products) and industry-leading vendors such as Lotus, Tivoli, Novell, Microsoft, SCO, SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards and Baan are tested on IBM Netfinity systems so that customers are empowered to achieve their highest degree of productivity.
Sponsored by Microsoft, the Business Applications Conference 98 is a technical how-to workshop for the integration of real world solutions. The first-ever conference is designed to educate developers, systems integrators, systems architects and independent software vendors (ISVs) on how to link disparate computer systems and line-of-business applications into complete, end-to-end solutions. The conference is the latest effort in Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to helping developers and customers realize the vision of a “Digital Nervous System.”
Source: IBM