Unisys Announces Next-Generation Server

Unisys Announces Next-Generation Server Architecture

Using Intel Xeon and Itanium processor technology, Unisys to bring benefits of mission-critical, mainframe-class computing to Microsoft and open source customers

Unisys today announced a revolutionary server architecture as the foundation of a comprehensive strategy to create a compelling customer value proposition in the expanding market for enterprise computing.

This architecture is the first in the market to enable four operating environments – Microsoft Windows, Linux and Unisys OS2200 and MCP – to run simultaneously on the same computer system in a single virtualised partition. Unisys integrated virtualisation and management capabilities enable sharing of application workloads dynamically based on customer-defined business rules.

Using Intel Xeon and Itanium processor technologies and capitalising on its partnership with NEC, Unisys expects the new architecture to outpace the industry in server processing power through Unisys-developed virtualisation and management software.

Unisys expects to begin delivering systems based on the new architecture in late 2007.

“This next-generation architecture gives Unisys a unique position in the growing market for mid-range and high-end scale-up servers based on Intel processor technology,” said Brett Hodgson, Managing Director Unisys New Zealand. “It affords Unisys customers a quantum leap in enterprise computing power and economy to overcome their most critical IT challenges: increasing server asset utilisation, lowering management costs and dynamically allocating computing resources to meet business needs that change in real time.”

Research from leading market intelligence providers shows that as workloads for Windows and Linux servers grow, they will drive customer requirements for improved server utilisation and more efficient management. To run these workloads, the data centre of the future will increasingly demand scale-up servers based on x86, x64 and IPF technologies for key applications – and able to run multiple operating systems as workloads are consolidated.

Going forward, market research firm IDC expects the combined midrange and high-end segments of the worldwide server market hosting Windows and Linux environments to show robust growth in terms of customer revenue spent for new systems. Windows servers in the midrange and high-end segments, when combined, are expected to show a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3 per cent, according to IDC's forecast, while Linux servers in those segments, when combined, are expected to have a CAGR of 18.5 per cent.

Unisys expects that the next-generation architecture will serve as the basis for all Unisys enterprise servers, including the ClearPath family. The architecture is designed to eliminate the need for custom CMOS processors, as new servers meet and exceed the processing power of CMOS-based systems, while providing full compatibility and investment protection for ClearPath customers’ existing applications.

Continuing to demonstrate its commitment to support its ClearPath customers’ immediate enterprise computing requirements, Unisys today also announced a range of integrated software tools, including capabilities that enable deployment of Microsoft .NET and Java EE environments, along with the most powerful ClearPath models ever. See separate press release: http://www.unisys.com/about__unisys/news_a_events/06278685.htm.

“Unisys plans to continue making significant investments in innovation for our existing ClearPath customers,” said Hodgson.

Real-Time Infrastructure Maximises Performance of Intel Processors for Enterprise Computing
Unisys has designed the next-generation architecture to deliver superior price/performance as the driver in real-time infrastructure, which allocates computing resources directly and dynamically to support customers’ strategic business processes, such as those driving customer satisfaction and other processes critical to business growth and competitiveness.

“The Unisys combination of leading-edge virtualisation, security, openness and application continuity for all of our operating environments gives customers real-time infrastructure in a single package that helps them reach the next level in deploying IT to advance their strategic business objectives,” added Hodgson.

The Unisys architecture takes advantage of numerous benefits of Unisys Real-Time Infrastructure Solution for enterprise computing:
• Scalable virtualisation technology that enables Microsoft Windows and Linux to run simultaneously on the same computer system with Unisys OS2200 and MCP operating environments, sharing application workloads dynamically among all environments;
• Facility management software, which enables dynamic allocation of workloads among heterogeneous infrastructure resources based on customer-defined business policies;
• Cost-of-ownership savings through consolidation and virtualisation of multiple operating environments onto a unified platform with optimised resource usage. Unisys anticipates that infrastructure consolidation will enable customers to realise significant savings in power consumption and related costs.

“With its next-generation server architecture, Unisys is revolutionising the way Intel technology can be deployed for mission-critical computing and enabling Intel to reach new enterprise customers worldwide,” said Kirk Skaugen, vice president, Intel Digital Enterprise Group. “Unisys advanced virtualisation and system management unleashes the full power of Intel multi-core technology, increasing data centre performance while optimising price/performance.”

Kazuhiko Kobayashi, executive vice president and member of the board, NEC, said, “Through our close collaboration, NEC can capitalise on this advanced Unisys architecture to expand our global business. Together, we can deliver next-generation servers that give customers the power, scalability and cost-efficiency they need to meet their most demanding enterprise computing requirements and advance their strategic business objectives.”

Services and Software to Drive Additional Value for Enterprise Computing
Using the Unisys 3D Visible Enterprise (3D-VE) approach, Unisys will extend the benefits of the new architecture with software tools and its rich suite of consulting, implementation and management services for optimising real-time infrastructure, consolidating IT, and extending and modernising application environments.

Hodgson added, “By combining the power of this advanced server architecture with Unisys proven expertise in software and services for enterprise-class computing environments, Unisys is exceptionally – indeed, solely – qualified to take our customers to the next level of secure business operations that yield major benefits in cost-of-ownership, end-to-end visibility driving efficiencies in the IT environment, and significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media