Linux for Power server solution

Highlights

• Increase flexibility with worldwide support of leading Linux® distributors and thousands of applications
• Improve responsiveness with a highly reliable platform for business-critical applications
• Cut costs and consolidate workloads with advanced virtualization capabilities
• Realize innovation with leadership computing capabilities

The Linux operating system (OS) has earned a reputation for flexibility and cost effectiveness, resulting in rapid growth of the number of supported applications—both custom-built and ISV packages. More and more companies are turning to Linux applications—and more of these applications are becoming integral to their success. IBM offers an enterprise-class Linux for Power™ server solution for business-critical applications and server consolidation by combining a Linux OS from a Linux distributor with an IBM Power™ Systems server.

IBM POWER™ processor-based servers have a well-earned reputation for high performance and superior RAS (reliability, availability, serviceability) features, a reputation that is proven by Power Systems server leadership in the UNIX® and Linux marketplaces. The foundation is advanced IBM POWER6™ and POWER5+™ processor technology. With these advanced 64-bit chips, IBM servers lead challengers in many key benchmarks  ¹ , helping provide the power needed to take advantage of new opportunities through innovation. Linux for Power operating systems can take advantage of this high-performance architecture.

In addition, IBM has enabled a wide range of RAS features on these servers for the Linux operating system, offering a platform designed to keep business-critical applications up and running. To complete the solution, these servers offer the potential to cut energy and IT costs and improve flexibility with advanced virtualization technologies such as IBM PowerVM™ Editions. Power Systems platforms offer options for logical partitioning and Micro-Partitioning™ technologies, allowing the allocation of system resources to match the needs of a business.

IBM is working with Red Hat, Inc., Novell SUSE Linux and ASIANUX (in China, Japan and Korea) as Linux distribution companies to deliver tested Linux operating systems supporting Power Systems platforms. IBM provides the ability to order a full distribution of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Versions 4 or 5 or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 9 or 10 in conjunction with new Power Systems server purchases.  ² By bringing these servers together with the Linux operating system, you get the best of both worlds: the enterprise-class capabilities of the Power Systems platforms and the flexibility and cost advantages of the Linux OS.