IBM Unveils Industry's First Systems that Rewrite Economics of "Industry-Standard" Computing
All-new class of x86 systems break constraints of 30-year technology design; slash costs by reducing server sprawl
On March 2nd, IBM introduced the first systems that shatter technical barriers to offer dramatically more scalable, workload-tuned computing on the x86 platform. The company's new eX5 servers are the result of a three-year engineering effort to improve the economics of operating enterprise-sized x86-based systems.
The eX5 portfolio marks IBM's second family of 2010 systems designed for a new generation of demanding workloads and to significantly reduce costs of existing IT infrastructure. They are being previewed at the CeBIT trade show in Germany and will be officially rolled out later in March and throughout the year. To see the launch at CEBIT and other videos on this significant announcement, please visit our video channel: Click here
With eX5, the economics are changed. The eX5 systems take advantage of integration with IBM middleware to create a highly virtualised environment that gives users a flexible, highly scalable system that can reduce the number of servers needed by half while cutting storage costs 97% (1) and licensing fees by 50% (2).
Acxiom Corp. is a leader in interactive marketing services and early user of eX5 systems. The company counts among its clients seven of the top ten retail banks and nine of the top ten auto makers. Acxiom analyzes massive amounts of rapidly ballooning consumer data on behalf of its clients - four petabytes one year ago; seven petabytes just six months ago; and more than ten petabytes of data today. Acxiom now has 22,500 servers.
"The IBM eX5 systems are game changers," says Acxiom CIO David Guzman. "We've been able to double our virtualisation capacity, dropping our software licensing costs. The price/performance equation is extraordinarily compelling, with five times the performance at a fraction of the cost. Moreover, there is a positive impact on all of the other key components of IT cost -- space, power, labour, maintenance. The concrete results of this next generation machine are exciting, and the roadmap has 'knock-your-socks-off' vision."
To view the full press release click here.
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NOTES:
1. IBM eXFlash technology would eliminate the need for a client to purchase two entry-level servers and 80 JBODs to support a 240,000 IOPs database environment, saving $670,000 in server and storage acquisition costs.
2. IBM will offer a two-socket eX5 system with MAX5 and 64 dimms capable of supporting 320 virtual machines. Users of competitive systems would have to purchase a four-socket system to support a comparable amount of virtual machines and pay 50 percent more licensing costs. Based on sizing information performed in the IBM performance lab.
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The 30 Second Business Case Seminars
Struggling to make the business case for virtualisation? At one of our 30-Second Business Case Seminars, you'll learn how to present an attention-grabbing 30-second summary of why smarter companies are investing in desktop, server and storage virtualisation, with the focus on reduced costs and ROI. Case studies will provide real-life examples of how it works in practice. You will also hear about how you can work with IBM and their partners to understand how to take the costs of your software licensing with instant returns available to your organisation.
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Supporting Videos
How to - Justify VDI - Cam Merrett
How to - Make a case for data centre modernisation - Gary Barnett
How to - Reduce Storage costs - Ian Shave
How to - reduce software licensing costs- Lisa Occleshaw
How to - Control software licences prior to VDI - Mark Cresswell
To learn more about virtualisation technology play IBM's interactive Droodles game to understand the benefits to your organisation.
Virtualizing the Desktop: The Path to Lower Costs and Increased Security
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Value Proposition for IBM Virtulisation Solutions: Bottom Line Impact For Enterprise Infrastructures
See how large enterprises in FSS can half their operational expenditure with Virtualisation Technology in this report from ITG.Please see full report
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Investing in virtualisation in the current economy
Hear from industry analyst Hamish Macarthur of Macarthur Stroud international on why now is the time to embrace virtualisation technologies.For more videos on Dynamic Infrastructure please visit the following link
Case Studies
Posted by Stephen Murgatroyd, Business, Systems & Human Factors Analyst
Independent
Virtualisation projects are like any other IT projects, in that the Business Case needs to be laid out first. Sadly, most business cases focus on efficiency, i.e. inputs rather that effectiveness, i.e. outputs, because inputs are easier to measure. KPIs need to be benchmarked against the existing system, so that any benefits the new system can be proven. Efficiency inputs might be energy costs or maintenance effort. Effectiveness outputs might be carbon savings or ease of maintenance or improved control. Both efficiency and effectiveness can be quantified, meaning a pound sign in front, which is the best way to get management buy-in and ongoing support
Posted by Dylan
Sometimes these kind of projects fail because they are attempted as a single, enormous task with an all-or-nothing approach to the business case. If you are struggling with funding and business backing try breaking it down - do things one step at a time. Obtain budget and deliver benefits in stages, increasing buy in and support from your sceptics with each step you take as they see the deliveries. If you can't do this how do you know the original, enormous plan was going to be a huge success anyway?
Posted by Gary Barnett, Partner and CTO
Bathwick
Hi everyone, Thought I'd drop some ideas in, as I've been wrestling with this issue with a few clients over the past few months. One of the biggest problems we have with infrastructure investments is that they only really pay off (at least from the CFO's perspective) if your new infrastructure actually results in you switching something off! Existing (messy) infrastructure plus virtualisation = more cost and complexity. You can argue with the CFO till you're both blue in the face that the "more cost" is less than it would have been if you carried on plonking new machines in for each new project/app - but the CFO just sees more money spent. The key in a few recent projects has been to clearly identify a chunk of infrastructure that really can be eliminated thanks to virtualisation and to cost justify an initial virtualisation investment scoped around that - Once the CFO sees a reduction in cost as a result of that project - there'll be a lot more enthusiasm for expanding the scope. Hope this helps G
Posted by Anonymous
Is there something to be said for getting the business case right for investment in infrastructure modernisation? We need to prove ROI for everything which is not that easy to do in 'real' terms...any thoughts?
Posted by Colin
Mark To explain something of the lack of takeup with virtualisation, or any other technology, I recommend anyone to watch the first ten minutes of Eric Evans video from QCon where he illustrates how and why projects fail. It's something we've all seen in real life even if we can't put it as succinctly as he does: http://www.infoq.com/presentations/design-strategic-eric-evans I think there is a certain world-weariness as many organisations have had the experience of implementing projects where the promise hasn't even been vaguely close to the delivery so unless there are demonstrable proven benefits people aren't clamouring to be in the first, or even second, wave of adopters.
Posted by Clive, Project Director
Willis
You have to assess the risks though, especially in a regulated environment - and then make damn sure they are managed - and that Management are completely confident about the management of the risks
Posted by Anonymous
At times like these, you do wonder if 'strategic' planning counts at all! I know of one centre that got half-way to completion, then due to a merge was stopped. How do you get around that?
Posted by Victor Kent, Director
GMC
Take each project on a project by project basis,no 2 projects are the same,weigh up the S.W.O.T and then talk to the supplier,listen to what other people say,listen to your supplier,and then make your mind up,short term finance against long term gain in not allways the answer
Posted by mark, director
ppl
re Where are you..... Fair points, but it does not really answer the question of why organisations are not progressing faster with virtualisation. We know the reasons that the vendors push, but the resistance can be driven by short-term finances rather than long-term gain. Especially in these times. How do you solve that?
Posted by Ash Patel, country manager, UK & Ireland
Stonesoft
I would like to make a point about network security which always seems to get overlooked in the hype around implementing virtualisation. Yes, virtual desktop infrastructures (VDI) will bring cost and productivity benefits to organisations and it will likely be as successful as server virtualisation. However, virtualisation does change the rules of the security game and organisations need to adapt their security strategies accordingly if they are not to fall foul of hackers or other security risks. Many would argue VDI is inherently more secure than physical computers because information isn't being carried around on mobile devices such as laptops. A key point which is often overlooked is that VDI also grants access into centralised data centres which hold a company's most valuable asset, its data. The need for security in the virtual environment is crucial to ensure that virtual applications are not being breached and access to certain parts of the network are controlled. Physical security products don't necessarily work in virtual environments as they can't actually see traffic inside virtual networks. Organisations need to implement solutions such as firewalls and intrusion prevention systems that are specifically designed for virtual environments. Many organisations have been blind sighted by security when implementing server virtualisation projects. If these lessons are learnt then organisations can take full advantage of technologies such as VDI.