IBM has released a line of Linux-only servers aimed at the
financial and retail sectors based on its 64-bit Power5 chip
architecture.
IBM will pre-install its new four-way, 64-bit eServer Openpower
servers with Red Hat's enterprise Linux operating system, rather
than AIX, IBM's Unix-based operating system.
IBM said it already has more than 650 certified applications for
Linux on the Power platform, which will make it a strong
entry-level platform for Linux.
Brian Connors, IBM vice-president of Linux on Power, said,
"OpenPower is a revolutionary option for businesses, particularly
in the financial and retail industries, who are looking for
lower-priced, more powerful alternatives to HP and Sun Unix
systems."
But Gartner vice-president George Weiss said, "Linux on Risc is at
best a niche market served by IBM alone. Few applications have yet
been certified for Linux on Power, apart from selected IBM
middleware products, such as Websphere, DB2 and Tivoli."
Weiss added that the specialised version of the Linux OS for the
Power architecture may cause IT management issues. Gartner
recommended that only aggressive technology adopters should
consider deploying the new servers. Others should wait to see how
the market develops.