Sun to Resell StorageTek's
StreamLine SL8500 Tape Libraries
LOUISVILLE,
Colo. - June 30, 2004 - Today, at Storage World, StorageTek
announced completion of a strategic OEM partnership agreement with Sun
Microsystems.
Under the agreement, Sun will market and sell
StorageTek's StreamLine SL8500 under the StorEdge brand, as well as StorageTek's
L-700e and L-180 tape libraries.
"We are committed to changing
forever the way storage is architected, implemented and managed," said Tim
Pawloski, Senior Director, Sun Network Storage Products Group. "Our
partnership with StorageTek will unleash compelling new revenue opportunities
with unprecedented levels of sharing between the Sun and StorageTek sales teams."
...StorageTek
profile, ...Sun
profile, Tape Libraries,
Sun VARs - USA
Fujitsu's 1.9 GHz SPARC Processor Goes Faster
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -
June 22, 2004 - Fujitsu today announced enhancements to its 5th
generation SPARC64 processor.
The Fujitsu SPARC64 V processor is
fabricated using 90-nanometer process technology, a first for UNIX based
servers, and operates at 1.89 GHz. The enhancements deliver a significant
performance boost averaging 35% faster than previous generations.
"The improvements to the SPARC64 V processor for PRIMEPOWER
servers allow Fujitsu to continue delivering high reliability and groundbreaking
performance within mission-critical environments," said Richard McCormack,
vice president, product and solutions marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems. "Its
arrival demonstrates our consistent technology leadership in the open systems
marketplace and moves us even closer to the realization of solutions for the
Fujitsu and Sun Microsystems Advance Product Line collaboration."
Like previous generations, the 1.89 GHz SPARC64 V processor is
establishing world records for performance in the industry standard SPECjbb 2000
benchmark in 8-way, 16-way and 32-way configurations. In SPECjbb 2000 testing,
the new processor delivered performance improvements of 35% to 42% over its
predecessor in its respective configurations. A PRIMEPOWER 1500 server installed
with 32 x 1.89 GHz SPARC64 V processors achieved the highest efficiency record
in its class running Java based business applications. The system processed an
unprecedented 663,133 transactions per second.
In addition to increased clock speed and 90-nm fabrication
technology, the new SPARC64 V processor will incorporate 3 MB on-chip
second-level cache, another element that allows PRIMEPOWER servers to achieve
maximized throughput and uptime. PRIMEPOWER servers featuring the high-speed
SPARC64 V processor will be available in the fourth quarter of 2004. ...Fujitsu profile
SBS Technologies Launches ATM Advanced Mezzanine Card
Chicago, IL - June 22, 2004 - Today
at SuperComm 2004, SBS Technologies, Inc. announced the first member
of its new ATCA family.
The TELUM 1001-O3M AMC module provides
full duplex OC-3 ATM front I/O capabilities to an AdvancedTCA system. As a
leading provider of PCI mezzanine cards to the embedded computer market, SBS
Technologies will build upon the company's existing expertise by creating a
broad new family of AMC modules for a variety of telecommunication applications.
The TELUM 1001-O3M uses an Intel 41210 Serial to Parallel PCI bridge to the PCI
Express bus to communicate with the host processor on an AdvancedTCA system.
This board is the first in a series of next generation I/O solutions using the
AMC form factor. ...SBS
Technologies profile
Continuous Computing Announces ATCA Strategy
San Diego, CA - June
15, 2004 - Continuous Computing today announced its strategy to supply
products conforming to the Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA or
AdvancedTCA) standard.
The company's entry into the ATCA market is
seen as a strategic move that will help drive its next wave of customer and
revenue growth in the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and 3G Wireless
markets.
ATCA is a specification from PICMG, the PCI Industrial Computer
Manufacturers Group, targeted at requirements for the next generation of
carrier-grade communications equipment. The ATCA series of specifications (PICMG
3.x) incorporates the latest trends in high-speed interconnect technologies and
next-generation processors along with improved reliability, manageability, and
serviceability. Analysts from market research firms Crystal Cube Consulting and
Metz International forecast the ATCA market potential to grow from a negligible
amount today to over $20 billion by 2007. Research analysts unanimously agree
that wireless infrastructure for 2.5G and 3G Wireless edge and core solutions
will be the initial focus for deployment of ATCA-based solutions.
"We
are extremely pleased to announce our commitment to the AdvancedTCA market,
which is expected to be central to future network infrastructure deployments,"
said Ken Kalb, chairman and CEO of Continuous Computing. "Telecom equipment
manufacturers developing 3G Wireless and VoIP applications face tremendous
pressures to get to market quickly and affordably. Sourcing standards-based ATCA
hardware, middleware, and protocol software from a company uniquely positioned
to offer this complete set of solutions, plus the integration services required
to pull all of it together, is an intelligent and strategic business decision."
...Continuous
Computing profile
Sun Accused of Fixing Software Costs to Reduce Competition in
Used SPARC Market
Editor:-
June 8, 2004 - Sun Microsystems' policies on relicensing Solaris are
lambasted in a press release today issued by the Association of Service and
Computer Dealers International.
ASCDI accuses Sun of "deliberately
attempting to eliminate the secondary market for its machines worldwide."
In one way this is not news. Sun has always made life difficult for VARs in the
gray and remarketed segments. But ASCDI shows how in detail, how it says Sun
is trying to abuse its market position in SPARC servers. Here are some examples.
Example
1. New vs. Used: Sun V1280
The Solaris license (Product No.
SOLI-090-Y999) is normally bundled with and included in the price of the Sun
V1280 system. Solaris (SOLI-090-Y999) is currently priced separately at
$35,000. The V1280 system has a list price of $59,995 and typically sells to
the end-user at a 10-20% discount. The end-user purchase price is thus
somewhere in the $50,000 range. Thus the actual value of the new hardware is
now $15,000 ($50K-$35K=$15K).
A purchaser interested in acquiring a used V1280 system from the open
market must pay the following: (1) the price of the hardware, (2) the Solaris
license fee ($35,000); and (3) a recertification fee to Sun to assure
maintenance agreement acceptability (chargeable by Sun even if the system had
been continuously maintained by Sun). In many cases, these charges will render
the used hardware valueless in the hands of the initial end-user/owner/lessor.
In the end, the potential buyer for the previously owned equipment may have no
choice but to return to Sun for a new product.
Example 2. Remanufactured vs. Used: E6500
Sun sells
an E6500 remanufactured machine for $89,100. This price INCLUDES the Solaris 9
O/S, Server 32, 32 CPU Max license. However, the Solaris 9 O/S, Server 32, 32
CPU Max license is priced separately for a used machine purchased from a non-Sun
source at $100,000. A customer, lessor or financial institution with an
interest in a used E6500 will lose all or substantially all of the residual
value it was anticipating in this machine as a result of this pricing scheme.
By this and previous pricing actions, Sun is dramatically shifting the value of
its systems from hardware to software. In so doing, Sun continues to deflate
the market value of its worldwide installed hardware base. End users and
lessors need to know this and take action to adjust the Sun hardware values
reflected on their respective balance sheets and to account for the impact that
Sun's actions described above and in the Announcement will have on resale and
residual values.
When the next purchaser of a used Sun product from a non-Sun source
attempts to purchase the proper Solaris O/S license, the reality of Sun's
Solaris relicensing policy will become obvious:- the cost of a new Sun product
or a remanufactured machine, that comes bundled with the Solaris O/S and Solaris
license may cost less than the cost of a used Sun product including a "proper"
license from Sun.
Lending institutions take a dim view of financing
equipment heavily loaded with soft costs. Soft costs have no collateral value.
The "non-marketable" Solaris license representing over 50% of the cost
in Example 1 may make financing a problem absent additional collateral, (i.e.
other business assets). This is true whether purchasing new or used Sun
products. Sun products will eventually have no resale value as Sun
continues shifting value from hardware to software within its product mix.
...ASCDI
Editor's comments:- I
don't think Sun will be too worried about the residual value of their systems as
viewed by 3rd party leasing companies. If 3rd parties decide not to finance
Sun's servers, then Sun could step in and take that business directly. Other
computer companies have done the same in the past when they disagreed with the
open market's view of the value of their products. In fact locking out 3rd party
leasing companies would actually increase Sun's profit on each sale.
If true, the effect of Sun's policy described by ASCDI is disturbing, and
follows a long pattern of trying to reduce competition within the SPARC market.
However these kinds of policies only work if they are not resisted by users.
PMC Card Combines Audio, Video I/O, 128-Bit Graphics, and USB 2.0
OAKLAND, Calif - June 6, 2004 -
Peritek has launched a new category of "multi-media" PMC card
with the introduction of its new Sirena/PMC module.
The Sirena/PMC
provides audio I/O, video capture/display, graphic display up to 1900x1200 and a
USB 2.0 controller all on a standard PMC card.
Designed for the extended life-cycle demanded by embedded system
designs, the new card features Peritek's 128-bit Borealis graphics processor and
supports 2D, 3D, OpenGL, and DirectX-compatible displays in Solaris, Linux,
Windows, LynxOS, and VxWorks environments.
- Borealis 128-bit 2D/3D graphics controller
- Display programmable for 8, 16, or 32 bits/pixel
- 16 MB SGRAM (32 MB SGRAM optional)
- Analog (RGB) resolution up to 1920 x 1200
- Digital (PanelLink/DVI) up to 1280 x 1024
- OpenGL 1.1 in Hardware
- Hardware scroll, pan, and cursor
- VGA and FCode BIOS support on Channel A
- USB 2.0 Hub Controller
- Stereo Audio I/O
- Multi-input Video Digitizers
- Supports all PMC interfaces from 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI to 64-bit, 133 MHz
PCI-X Bus Interface
- Conduction-Cooled PMC Form Factor compatible
- Operating temperature range is 0º to +70º C
- For special processes such as conformal coating and extended temperature
(-40º to +70º C) please contact factory.
"The Sirena/PMC is an ideal solution for capturing and
displaying audio and video from standard off-the-shelf USB 2.0 peripherals
including digital video cameras," said Victor Gold, Vice President of
Graphics Technology. "It quickly adds multimedia functionality to any
computer that has a single available PMC slot."
...Peritek
profile, military
SPARC systems, Graphics
adapters
Sun's Plans Re Open Source Solaris Discussed in LinuxInsider
Editor:- June 4, 2004 -
LinuxInsider published an interesting article today called - Sun's Plans
To Open Source Solaris Questionable.
Personally, I think it's
irrelevant whether Sun does or doesn't pursue this.
Sun's Solaris
license base is at a historic high anyway, and growing. It's likely that Sun's
revenue will increase or at least stop declining during the next 3-4 quarters
because of its SPARC IV servers. And soon the recovery in the telco market,
which was a heavy user of SPARC and Solaris in the dotcom boom days, and which
hasn't invested in switching to alternative embedded platforms will provide
another boost to Sun's revenue.
Sun doesn't have a compelling need to
reform its proprietary outlook any more. With Microsoft's cash, and the
projected saving in R&D costs from its Fujitsu deal, they're looking at a
brighter future. I don't think Sun is going to change its ways now. If anything
they will become more confident/arrogant. ...read the article
Fujitsu and Sun to Merge SPARC Server Product Lines
SANTA CLARA, Calif., and TOKYO -
June 2, 2004 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Fujitsu Limited
today announced the expansion of their 20-year strategic relationship to include
the joint development and delivery of future generation Solaris and SPARC-based
systems.
Today's announcement brings together two of the strongest
companies in the world to deliver best in class platforms for all possible
network computing workloads and grow the market for Solaris and SPARC. Sun
and Fujitsu will bring together their Solaris and SPARC-based server product
lines by mid-2006, creating the industry's most complete data center systems
family, code named the Advanced Product Line (APL). APL will run the world's
leading enterprise-class operating system, Solaris, the Java Enterprise System,
and virtually every major enterprise application.
When complete,
the APL will replace Sun's and Fujitsu's existing Sun Fire and PRIMEPOWER
product lines, respectively. Customers will benefit from safe and seamless
binary compatibility along the SPARC roadmap.
During the
transition period leading up to the launch of the APL, Sun and Fujitsu will work
together to quickly implement arrangements to make each other's current Sun Fire
and PRIMEPOWER product lines available for distribution through both companies.
These arrangements will vary by geography. The companies and their respective
customers will all benefit from the expanded distribution of both companies'
existing product lines prior to the introduction of the jointly-developed, next
generation products.
...Fujitsu profile,
...Sun profile
Editor's
comments:- I already commented on this deal when we first reported on
speculation this would happen last October in my article
Are Sun's Days
Numbered?
Sun Announces Low Cost Quad SPARC NEB Level 3 Server
SANTA
CLARA, Calif. and SHANGHAI - June 1, 2004 - Sun Microsystems, Inc.
today unveiled new server and storage systems designed to meet the high
availability and security requirements of service providers, telecommunications
companies and governments.
Pricing for the Netra 440 server starts
at $13,995. Sun claims that the Netra 440 also offers telecom customers the best
compute density (4P/5U) of any comparable server on the market today, enabling
them to deploy more capacity and capability in a single rack. Leading innovators
such as Motorola and Alcatel are already benefitting from this technology.
- Up to 4 x UltraSPARC IIIi processors
- 5U rackmount
- NEBS Level 3 certification
- Up to 4 x 73-GB, Ultra320 SCSI disk drives
- 6 x 64-bit, full-length, PCI 2.2-compliant expansion slots
- Redundant, hot-pluggable DC power supplies with separate power cords
...Sun profile
Sun Says Every One of its New UltraSPARC IV Servers is a Benchmark
Winner
SANTA
CLARA, Calif. and SHANGHAI - June 1, 2004 - During its second quarterly Network
Computer '04 launch today, Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced that every
one of the new Solaris and UltraSPARC IV-based midrange and high-end systems
has set a world-record or benchmark, bringing the total to 37 world-records to
date.
Customer demand for the newest UltraSPARC IV-based systems
running the Solaris OS continues to gain momentum. And thousands of customers
are currently previewing Solaris 10 through Software Express, allowing them to
implement technologies unavailable anywhere else in production environments
today.
...Sun profile | |
Sun to Resell
StorageTek's StreamLine SL8500 Tape Libraries
Fujitsu's 1.9 GHz SPARC
Processor Goes Faster
SBS Technologies Launches ATM Advanced Mezzanine
Card
Continuous Computing Announces ATCA Strategy
Sun Accused
of Fixing Software Costs to Reduce Competition
PMC Card Combines
Audio, Video I/O, Graphics, and USB
Sun's Plans Re Open Source
Solaris Discussed in LinuxInsider
Fujitsu and Sun to Merge SPARC
Server Product Lines
Sun Announces Low Cost Quad SPARC NEB Level 3
Server
All the New UltraSPARC IV Servers are Benchmark Winners
earlier news -
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Nibble:- the SPARC IV Chip
To those who
don't know the internal details of the SPARC IV processor, Sun's recent
announcement that it was shipping these chips in new servers may not have
sounded very impressive.
A superficial glance shows that the new chip
runs at the same clock speeds as the old SPARC III (upto about 1.2GHz). And
these clock rates don't sound impressive at all when pitched against those in
the Intel architecture world which are 3 to 4 times faster.
To be sure,
Sun has been a laggard in recent years in bringing out faster processors. But
the SPARC IV is the first of a new generation of processors from Sun, Intel etc
which includes two internal processors. Inside the SPARC IV are two SPARC III
processors which share a high speed cache and either of which can operate on the
incoming instruction pipeline. At peak performance the single SPARC IV will
operate twice as fast as a SPARC III.
Because the 2 chips are pin
compatible, except for a single pin, it means that motherboard designers can
rush new high performance servers to market using a single (old) design of
motherboard.
It's the operating system which makes the real difference.
And because Sun designs new versions of Solaris in parallel with new chip
designs, the latent power is available to users from the first day that the new
systems are shipped. This is in contrast with the Intel market where
historically Intel and AMD typically have had to wait one to three years
before Microsoft's operating systems have supported new hardware features.
There
is a problem with clock speed in 64 bit processors. Due to data skew along wide
physical busses it's not so easy to guarantee that all the signal arrive at the
same time and that's why 64 bit chips tend to run at motherboard clock speeds
which are about half that of 32 bit chips. This problem applies to all
manufacturers, not just Sun. But once you are inside the chip, the wider data
bus effectively doubles the speed of calculating memory access addresses, and
makes up for the external difference.
So in performance terms a 1.2GHz
SPARC IV performs as fast as a 4.8GHz 32 bit SPARC chip would, if there were
such a beast. Except that the whole commercial SPARC market switched to 64 bit
processing about 8 years ago. That should make you feel a bit more confident
that the new SPARC IV systems will be appearing a lot faster than if they
required a total system redesign. Also the performance is more impressive than
you might have thought at first.
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Learn How
to Trust Your Storage Drives - article by the Trusted Computing Group
H
ow much can you trust the security of data on your storage drives?
Snugly nestling in a RAID
system in your datacenter - maybe. Now what about when those self same
drives are in some one else's mitts - because they've been replaced, sold or
stolen?
The Trusted Computing Group has been working with
storage manufacturers
and other industry trade bodies
to create a standard model and framework for extending security into the storage
drive - using extensions of the
SCSI and ATA command sets
- and by extending the features originally designed for internal error logging.
Although at an early stage, readers may be interested in reading and commenting
(to TCG) on the draft document - which is published here as part of their
market liaison exercise. ...read the article,
...Trusted Computing Group
profile, Storage
Security, disk
sanitizers | | |
