IBM will push the OpenPower server to run only the Linux System

[ENews message] According to the CNET News website, in order to make users more popular with their Power processors, it plans to announce a brand new cheap series of servers called OpenPower that can only run Linux on July 15, September 13.

According to sources familiar with the program, the OpenPower server product uses a Power5 processor, but can only run Linux operating systems, rather than AIX or i5/OS Operating Systems. IBM intends to set a competitive price for OpenPower servers, which will make OpenPower servers more than just rival Sun's low-end Unix servers based on UltraSparc processors, it will also become a competitor of X86 architecture servers from many companies, such as Intel Xeon and AMD Opteron.

The OpenPower server has changed compared with the previous Power server. IBM is still expecting its Power architecture to become the industry standard, replacing x86, cert, and Opteron chips, according to Brooke wood, an analyst at Insight64. It is also confident that the Linux operating system is a tool that makes it easier for customers to turn to the Power platform. However, according to IDC, a market research company, IBM still has to go a long way to reach the popularity of x86 chips. Last year, the shipment volume of X86 architecture servers was 4.7 million, far exceeding that of 118000 Power servers. IBM has been actively promoting its Power processors. In January, he said that it would set the price of Power servers to the same level as Intel architecture servers. In May, it opened up the design of the Power architecture to a limited extent, and in August it gave programmers free access to remote servers installed at the Polish university, develop Linux operating system software running on the Power platform.

IBM has been an advocate of Linux since 2000. But according to Harf, analyst at illuminata, so far the Linux-power portfolio is still playing a small role and has little attraction to existing IBM customers. Products such as openpower servers are very important for IBM to bring Linux-power combinations into the mainstream market. He said IBM had to make the Linux community interested in the power platform, and IBM's ambition had hinted that the Linux-power portfolio would compete with the Linux-x86 portfolio, it is required to obtain more developers and partners. However, the potential cost of the Linux-power combination may become a stumbling block for the power platform to enter the mainstream market. IBM declined to comment on the above comments.

Sun admires the performance of the power chip, but it believes that IBM still has many difficulties to solve in obtaining support from mainstream Linux users, users of Linux are used to choosing a vendor from multiple vendors. It is much easier to port applications from one version of Linux to another than to other operating systems, according to analyst potzman of IDC. James, analyst at redmonk, also said that for IBM, openpower servers will play a role in promoting their goal of achieving the popularity of power chips. It needs to bring power chips out of its traditional market, which is a good move for IBM to launch openpower servers.

From: enews