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TMCNet: IBM system cuts tech-management costs

[April 12, 2012]

IBM system cuts tech-management costs

Apr 12, 2012 (The Arizona Daily Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- IBM Corp. has rolled out a new category of "expert integrated" systems it calls a major step forward in simplifying corporate computing.

IBM said its new PureSystems family of computer data systems, unveiled Wednesday, offers a more efficient system design, automated system-maintenance capabilities and plug-in adaptability to network-based cloud computing services.

In one of its biggest product rollouts in years, IBM said PureSystems is the result of $2 billion in research, development and acquisitions over four years.

Five U.S. patents designed specifically for PureSystems originated from IBM's storage technology development center in Tucson, IBM spokesman Jeffrey Tieszen said.

For storage, PureSystems incorporates IBM's Storwize V7000 midrange disk system, which was launched in 2010.

Easy Tier, a feature of the Storwize V7000 that automates the prioritization of data for optimal access and storage, was developed in Tucson by IBMers including Vincent Hsu, who was named an IBM Fellow -- Big Blue's top technical honor -- on Tuesday.

IBM said PureSystems is designed to significantly lower the cost of computer management. The company cited its own research findings that simple operation and maintenance costs companies worldwide 70 percent of their information-technology budgets -- leaving little to invest in new technology.

"By tightening the connections between hardware and software, and adding incomparable software know-how, PureSystems is designed to help clients to free up time and money to focus on innovation," Steve Mills, IBM senior vice president and group executive for software and systems, said in prepared remarks.

IBM says the new systems can be set up in one-third of the time it takes to assemble other IBM systems, while sharply reducing long-term labor costs associated with similar systems.

The two initial PureSystems products are PureFlex, a hardware and software system that integrates servers, storage and networking in one package; and PureApplication, a platform that uses IBM networking technology for easy deployment of new applications.

While other big-data equipment providers like Cisco, Oracle and Hewlett-Packard have moved to more integrated system offerings, IBM has sought to make its PureSystems product line more open, supporting multiple processor types and operating systems.

IBM says PureSystems incorporates three major advances: --"Scale-in" system design integrating server, storage and networking into a highly automated, simple-to-manage system. Each PureSystems setup can be split into thousands of "virtual machines" -- up to twice the density of previous systems -- resulting in 43 percent energy savings, IBM says.

To enable that capability, IBMers in Tucson teamed with colleagues at seven other IBM sites worldwide to help create the IBM Flex System Manager, IBM's Tieszen said.

--"Patterns of expertise" software allows the systems to automatically handle basic, time-consuming tasks such as configuration, upgrades and application requirements.

Besides offering its own built-in patterns, IBM has invited independent software vendors to create patterns (more than 100 were ready at launch), and customers can also create their own.

--"Cloud-ready" integration allows companies to quickly create secure, self-service cloud computing offerings that can scale up and down automatically. Cloud computing allows data, software and other resources to be shared over a network (typically the Internet).

All that functionality doesn't come cheap. PureSystems setups will start at about $160,000, with three levels of size and complexity (express, standard or enterprise).

The new systems are expected to start shipping to customers later this quarter, IBM said.

Did you know? IBM is Southern Arizona's 35th-largest employer, with an estimated 1,350 local workers, according to the Star 200 survey of the region's major employers.

Contact Assistant Business Editor David Wichner at dwichner@azstarnet.com or 573-4181.

___ (c)2012 The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.) Visit The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.) at www.azstarnet.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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