IBM has claimed its latest package of hardware and software will
enable DB2 database software users to build Linux clusters on IBM
servers faster and cheaper than before.
"Customers are collecting more information than they know what to
do with, and databases are growing," said Jeff Jones, director of
strategy for IBM's data management solutions group. "This
clustering package provides a building-block approach to allow
customers to build large, multiterabyte databases."
Clusters allow users to grow computing resources without purchasing
large, expensive servers. Certain customers, such as life sciences
companies, will always need powerful supercomputers, but many
others - in financial, retail, manufacturing and public sectors -
can benefit from the DB2 for Linux Clustering package.
Using the SuSE Linux 8 operating system, and existing DB2 software,
customers can build clusters from two nodes to 1,000 nodes. IBM
will demonstrate a 40-node cluster built using the package at
Linuxworld in New York this week.
Customers can add systems management tools from IBM's Tivoli
Software division and IBM's WebSphere application management
software. The entire package has also been optimised for SAP's
applications.
IBM's x335 and x360 xSeries servers make up the hardware portion of
the package. Infiniband, the high-speed interconnect technology, is
used to connect the clusters.
Pricing for the package starts at $10,000 (£6,182) for a two-node
cluster with two x335 servers provided. The price for larger
clusters will depend on customer needs. It is available worldwide
through IBM or the company's resellers today (Monday).
The package is designed for medium-to-large enterprises with IT
departments familiar with clustering packages. IBM's services arm
will provide installation support for customers who want to build
clusters, but lack the IT proficiency in-house.