IBM making Linux, server play
IBM WILL KICK its Unix strategies into a higher gear beginning this
fall as it delivers a beefed up version of its AIX operating system
that includes full Linux support and continuing next year when the
company rolls out a series of servers to be powered by the company's
long-awaited Power 4 chip and featuring NUMA technologies.
AIX 5L is sculpted to take advantage of IBM's upcoming Power 4 RISC
processor as well as Intel's IA-64 chip. The 64-bit operating system
will contain the full set of Linux APIs, making it easier for
developers and corporate users to port Linux applications to AIX
allowing Linux and AIX applications to exist side by side.
Besides the convenience of having Linux and AIX applications working
in closer harmony in the same environment, the time and expense
required to create and deploy them will be reduced significantly.
"With the inclusion of Linux support, I think 5L gives our [AIX]
developers access to some of the hotter Internet-based markets
emerging like finance and petroleum exploration," said Dave Turek,
vice president in charge of deep computing and Web servers at IBM's
Enterprise Systems Group, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM worked with several industry players to work
in support for several core technologies intended for enterprise
users. Those technologies include Sequent Technologies DYNIX/ptx,
multi-path and NUMA, as well as SCO's UnixWare.
Version 5L has an improved Workload Manager that better manages and
juggles CPU, disk I/O, and memory resources. Company officials
believe this helps larger IT shops give priority to Web serving
applications while at the same time making capacity not being used
available for other Web-serving duties.
Also included in 5L is Unix System 5 support, including the SVR4
printing subsystem, which offers users industry-standard printing
administration and drivers.
IBM officials said several tool and middleware developers are now
building applications for the operating system, including Cygnus
Solutions, Geodesic, Parasoft, and Roguewave. Both Unisys and Bull
are working with the code to ensure it will run smoothly on its
upcoming IA-64 chips.
Sometime in the second half of 2001 IBM will deliver a server
series, code-named Regatta, to be fueled by Big Blue's upcoming
Power4 1,000MHz processor. At the high end, the symmetrical
processing system will support as...