IBM takes on Sun

The 'big blue' IBM has introduced a new range of powerful computers designed to manage Internet sites, lining up against current market leader Sun Microsystems.

IBM is introducing the RS/6000 B50 and a companion Intel chip-based Netfinity server. The two systems are compact and designed for managing tasks like Web hosting, messaging, Internet security, directory services, and e-commerce. They run on Linux or IBM's flavour of UNIX system, called AIX. The former is turning out to be a favourite for web based applications while UNIX is the main alternative to Windows NT in key business operations.

IBM's RS/6000 range of workstations include entry-level servers used to manage local networks up to supercomputer-class machines. This range is based on IBM's   copper-based computer chips and designed for the UNIX operating system, a market dominated by Sun.

The company expects these to be a favorite among those who prefer Linux as their server operating system.

The B50 is priced at less than US$4,000 which makes it  among the cheapest in the Internet market.

The new IBM products are part of its 'all out attack' strategy against Sun. IBM's acquisition of Sequent Computer Systems, which is pending, is expected to be another major boost in this direction. Sequent has the technology to run UNIX and Windows software on servers.

TheRS/6000 S80 uses up to 24 computer chips making it  almost thee times as good as IBM's earlier model in performance and is expected to be better than Sun's servers that use up to 64 microprocessors. The advantage with using fewer microprocessors is that it uses less power and is less likely to fail.

The new line is designed for use in data-intensive programs used to control key business operations and would be priced well below the current Sun Enterprise10000.

A Sun E10000, the company's hot-selling high-end computer, with 64 chips and equivalent amounts of computer memory,
costs about 50 percent more than an RS/6000 with 24 microprocessors.

IBM expects that its share of the UNIX server market will increase though not dramatically. While Sun is the market leader in Internet UNIX systems with Hewlett-Packard and IBM close behind.

IBM is also introducing a new product code-named
Pizzazz. This is aimed at ISPs, and Application Service Providers (ASPs- which lease software to companies over the Web) and will help them eliminate the need to manage their own software.