IBM Announces POWER5 Server for Entry-Level Unix Segment

February 8, 2005

IBM today announced it will offer the latest in a new series of aggressively priced IBM POWER5(TM) processor-based servers. The new IBM eServer(TM) p5 510 is designed to bring impressive POWER5 performance and advanced virtualization capabilities to an entry level UNIX® and Linux® server, making POWER5 affordable for every small and medium business.

The IBM eServer p5 510 delivers AIX 5L(TM) V5.3 functionality to a new level in the marketplace. Never before has IBM offered such an advanced eServer p5 system to the UNIX marketplace at a starting price under $4,000. The p5-510 is offered standard with a three-year warranty, further lowering the long-term cost of owning the widely-acclaimed p5 server.

Unlike IBM's competitors, this low-end server is available with high-end feature options such as advanced virtualization. The compact p5-510 is capable of leveraging optional IBM Virtualization Engine technology and Micro-Partitioning(TM) capabilities to allow clients at the server market's entry-point to support UNIX and Linux applications simultaneously -- with stunning performance characteristics across operating systems.

"With the introduction of the p5-510, IBM is taking advanced AIX 5L and POWER5 technology and making them available in an aggressively priced entry-level system," said Karl Freund, vice president, IBM eServer pSeries®. "IBM's commitment to capture the growing opportunity in high-volume and channel-based UNIX server sales takes a great leap forward with the introduction of this innovative server."

The system's slim form factor, innovative design features and system flexibility combine to provide a system unmatched by HP and Sun -- with superior performance to comparable offerings:

Performs 1.79X better than the Sun Fire V240 on integer
Performs 1.46X better than the Sun Fire V240 on floating-point
Performs 2.3X better than the Sun Fire V250 on NFS file serving
Performs 1.1X better than the HP rx2600 in Java Virtual Machine serving

The IBM eServer p5 510 is a one- to two-way rack-mount system that supports AIX 5L Versions 5.2 and 5.3 as well as Linux operating systems. Unique IBM technologies such as mainframe-inspired IBM Virtualization Engine(TM) and Micro-Partitioning capabilities offer scalability and applications management options for companies looking to run business-critical and replicated branch applications in retail, wholesale, distribution, financial services and healthcare organizations that support remote stores, branches, regional offices or kiosks.

IBM's 64-bit POWER5 processor-based servers are increasingly becoming the system of choice across the industry -- for clients with multiple locations, clients and Independent Service Providers (ISVs) to business partners, value-added resellers (VARs) and distributors.

New Server Powers Core Banking Systems for TEMENOS Group AG
Founded in 1993, TEMENOS Group AG is a provider of integrated core banking systems software to over 300 financial institutions worldwide.

"The banking industry demands that their applications run with excellent performance in a highly secure environment," said Mark Gunning, General Manager, Temenos North America. "With Temenos applications running on IBM's POWER-based p5-510 systems, we're offering customers, small and large, a robust 64-bit platform that will help to advance banking solutions substantially with new levels of speed, performance and functionality."

Advanced Systems Group, IBM Premier Business Partner
Advanced Systems Group is an IBM Premier Business Partner in Southern California that offers a broad range of business solutions including enterprise application infrastructure, data archive/protection and e-business; all based on state-of-the-art IBM hardware and middleware backed by their own professional services.

"We're looking forward to adding the p5-510 to our growing list of reliable, scalable and secure IBM eServer p5 servers that come in a variety of sizes to fit the needs of our varied customer base -- from small- and medium-sized businesses to large enterprises," said David Browning, Executive VP of Advanced Systems Group. "This new entry-level 64-bit POWER5 system with virtualization options will allow us to offer our customers an attractively priced platform with greater performance and more capabilities in a smaller footprint then that of other UNIX competitors."

Agilysys Inc., IBM Distributor
Agilysys Inc. is a leading distributor and one of the largest solution providers of enterprise computer products, computer system solutions and services.

"We're excited to see IBM extend its flagship line of UNIX systems in a 1- to 2-way POWER5 server," said Bruce Slaven, Director of Product Marketing, Agilysys Inc. "The form factor, power and precision of these low-cost, high-performance systems is attractive to our customer base and is sure to help us meet our high-volume sales objective."

IBM eServer p5 510 Express
The new system will also be offered as a part of IBM's Express program -- joining a rapidly expanding portfolio of Express server, storage and software solutions -- representing a comprehensive set of products for the specific needs of mid-sized clients. IBM Express solution offerings are powered by IBM systems with IBM TotalStorage, running IBM middleware and ISV applications, backed by the largest network of IBM Business Partners, IBM Global Financing and Global Services.

Pricing and Availability
IBM plans to make the IBM eServer p5 510 and the 1-way p5-510 Express available on February 18, 2005. The 2-way 1.5 GHz p5-510 Express is planned to be available in April 2005. The system will be available in a 1- to 2-way rack with maximum memory of 32GB. The p5-510 supports AIX 5L Version 5.2 and 5.3, Novell SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 (SLES 9), and Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 3 (RHEL AS 3). The p5-510 will have a starting price of $3967 (excluding operating system) and includes a 1.5 GHz POWER5 processor, 512MB memory, 1 73.4GB 10K rpm disk drive, and three-year warranty.