 "IBM Introduces Power And Storage Systems Tuned For Big Data And Cloud")
IBM has accelerated its strategy to make Big Data and cloud computing a reality for businesses of all sizes with new Power Systems and Storage Systems that provide deep insights into Big Data, simplify data storage in the cloud, and can reduce costs through consolidation.
IBM has created an affordable family of entry level and midrange Power Systems based on new POWER7+ processors. The new systems are optimised for IBM’s analytics software, and use underlying technologies from the groundbreaking Watson system including POWER processors and Big Data analytics.
In addition to IBM’s longstanding relationship with Avnet and Arrow, this news comes on the heels of IBM’s recent agreement with Ingram Micro and TechData to resell IBM’s entire portfolio of Power Systems, PureSystems, and Storage Systems, radically changing the market of IBM’s POWER7+ technology by offering it to small and midsized enterprises (SME) and large enterprises.
Many SMEs have struggled to adopt Big Data and private cloud solutions due to lack of in-house skills and expertise to design and maintain commodity hardware-based systems. IBM is addressing these issues with new Power Systems that don’t require specialised skills and offer the latest advances in virtualisation and automation to speed private and hybrid cloud creation.
“Big Data and cloud systems that were once only affordable to large enterprises are now available to the masses,” said Rod Adkins, Senior Vice President, IBM Systems & Technology Group. “With these new systems, IBM is forging an aggressive expansion of its Power and Storage Systems business into SME and growth markets.”
Previously available only on select enterprise IBM Power Systems, IBM is extending its POWER7+ technology to entry level and midrange systems to help clients quickly build and deploy infrastructure for private and hybrid clouds.
POWER processors can be a better platform for big data and cloud than commodity x86 hardware because embedded memory and virtualisation - key ingredients for analytics and cloud workloads – are built into the processor. These systems come optimised for IBM’s industry-leading analytics software including Cognos and SPSS for business and predictive analytics.
According to Viswanath Ramaswamy, Country Leader - POWER Systems, IBM India South Asia, “IBM is now extending its POWER7+ microprocessor technology to entry level and mid range systems. IBM POWER processors are a better platform for Big Data and cloud than x86 chips because virtualisation, a key ingredient for Big Data computing, is built into the processor. With highly competitive price points for AIX, Linux or IBM i, the power of analytics has never been more cost-effective to obtain.”
IBM is rolling out eight new Power Systems for SMEs and growth market companies. New entry level systems include the Power Express 710, 720, 730 and 740 family of products.
IBM also introduced two new PowerLinux Systems - the 7R1 and 7R2 – now optimised for IBM InfoSphere BigInsights and InfoSphere Streams Big Data analytics software. Clients can take advantage of an optional IBM Solution for WebSphere Mobile and Web Applications on PowerLinux to speed up application development for the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
Two new Power Systems for midsized and large enterprises, the 750 and 760, are ideal consolidation platforms that centralise Big Data analytics and cloud workloads.
While technology options for businesses are growing rapidly, companies are searching for strategic solutions to help them shift spending away from maintaining infrastructure to investing for growth. IBM Global Financing can help credit-qualified clients acquire IBM Power Systems and Storage Systems with affordable payment programs that allow clients to keep their cash while accelerating return on investment and lowering total cost of ownership. Financing plans include: 0 percent, 12-month financing on Power and Storage Systems.