In an announcement yesterday, IBM Corp. introduced new technologies for its eServer xSeries line of Intel-based servers that the company said would increase uptime and lower operating costs for enterprises by 80 percent over servers from Dell Computer Corp. IBM said its results were based on an IBM server availability measurement tool using methodology and research data from Gartner Inc. in Stamford, Conn.
IBM said the measurement tool shows that over a five-year period, IBM’s “self-healing” technology could save a medium-size business running generic applications on an IBM eServer x220 up to US$53,110 in operating costs compared with a similarly configured Dell 1400SC server. IBM said the savings for large enterprises could be as much as US$553,280 in operating costs over the same period.
IBM is third behind Compaq Computer Corp. and Dell in the worldwide Intel Corp. server market. In the U.S. Intel server market, Dell is on top, followed by Compaq, with IBM in the third spot.
The smart technology was developed as part of IBM’s Project eLiza initiative to create intelligent systems capable of managing, protecting and healing themselves automatically.
The new technology is part of IBM’s Director 3.1 system management software for the IBM eServer xSeries. IBM said the software is designed to automatically predict when server problems might occur, call another computer for support and order parts. IBM is then able to contact the customer with a solution, such as sending a customer service representative
IBM Canada in Markham, Ont.,is at http://www.ibm.ca
Dell Canada in Richmond Hill, Ont., is at http://www.dell.ca