IBM x86 server is first to pass million per minute milestone

Big Blue says the milestone was achieved with an 8-socket System x server running 64-bit IBM DB2 9.5 on Red Hat Linux 5.2. With three other world records under its belt, IBM says its new servers offer exceptional power-efficiency, performance and virtualisation capabilities – the result of using eX4, the fourth generation of IBM’s chipset for Intel processor-based servers: Analyst IDC points out that IBM continues to dominate the high-end scalable x86 market, defined at 8-socket systems and above, taking more than 60% share in 2007 – three times more than its closest rival. It says that IBM has lead the 8-way space for three years now, turning in double digit market growth so far in 2008. “As the market leader in high-end x86 servers and the only vendor to design its own chip set for Intel-based servers, IBM is addressing the performance needs of our clients and the growing demand for scale up x86 servers,” asserts James Northington, vice president of IBM System x. “The new System x servers announced today provide the innovation our x86 clients have come to expect, with better performance and power usage than our competitors’ offerings.” And Brian Byun, vice president of global partners and solutions at VMware, adds: “IBM continues to deliver innovative technology on high-capacity platforms that are optimised for VMware virtualisation. “IBM and VMware’s joint work and optimisation on ‘scale-up’ virtual server platforms are targeted at our joint customers looking to implement a virtual data centre with a minimum number of server images and an efficient physical data centre footprint.”