CenterBeam
eWeek, 1/21/03: HP Wields 4-Processor Blade Server
By Jeffrey Burt
Hewlett-Packard Co. is aiming to drive blade server technology deeper into the enterprise.
The Palo Alto, Calif., company this week is unveiling a four-processor blade server that features Intel Xeon MP processors and SAN (storage area network) connectivity. The ProLiant BL40p is scheduled for general release in March, with prices starting at $8,999.
At the same time, HP is upgrading its two-processor blade, the ProLiant BL20p, which will feature Xeon chips and SAN connectivity, and its one-way server, the ProLiant BL10e, which will be powered by a 900MHz Pentium III chip. The upgraded BL20p will start at $3,399; the enhanced BL10e at $1,859.
The new four-processor server will round out HP's blade portfolio, said James Mouton, vice president for platforms in the company's Industry Standard Servers unit.
The SAN connectivity will enable businesses to run more of their enterprise applications on blade servers because it will allow enterprises to scale their storage to meet the demand, Mouton said.
"As they get into heavier apps, [the demand for] larger storage becomes pretty common," he said. "SAN connectivity allows for access to larger storage pools."
CenterBeam Inc., an IT outsourcer in Santa Clara, Calif., currently runs much of its architecture on the BL10e servers, though officials said they anticipate bringing in the larger blade servers as they continue to pare down the number of servers they run. Currently, CenterBeam runs many older servers from Dell Computer Corp. and the former Compaq Computer Corp.
"We're looking at consolidating a lot of those larger servers," said Steve Klise, system engineer at CenterBeam.
The company also is excited about the SAN connectivity available in the new servers as a way of reducing CenterBeam's reliance on disks.
The new BL40p and enhanced BL20p are expected to be generally available March 11. The upgraded BL10e is available now.
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Outsourcing
Network World, 1/20/03: Amtrak CIO offers outsourcing advice
By Carolyn Duffy Marsan
Under tight financial constraints, Amtrak last year signed a seven-year, $330 million deal with IBM that involves outsourcing most of the passenger railroad's IT services, including operation of its voice and data networks. Amtrak CIO Bob Galey recently spoke with Network World Senior Editor Carolyn Duffy Marsan about how best to structure and manage a network outsourcing arrangement. Here are excerpts from their conversation.
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IT Utility
Gartner, 1/17/03:
As offerings mature and as expectations for what IT utility services can and cannot deliver become more grounded in fact, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are slowly becoming more comfortable with IT utility offerings.
Gartner Dataquest examines the demand, penetration and plans among SMBs for IT utility services.
Based on recent research, Gartner Dataquest provides a snapshot of the market for IT utility services among SMBs. Specifically, it outlines the following:
Inhibitors and drivers for IT utility
Past experiences with IT utility
Satisfaction with IT utility to date
Preferred channels to engage IT utility services
Future IT utility plans
Service bundling preferences
Contracts
Most recognized brands
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Dell
Gartner, 12/12/02: Dell Will Try New Networking Markets and Delivery Channels
In a step to becoming a total infrastructure provider, Dell Computer will expand its networking services. It aims to penetrate the small-business market and test indirect delivery through partnerships.
Event: On 9 December 2002, Dell introduced a suite of services to help small businesses (with up to 200 employees) simplify purchasing, installing and managing computer networks. The new offering includes services in network design, installation and training. Dell will serve as the single point of contact for each service.
First Take: Dell’s service offering should appeal to small businesses, which typically lack the skills and resources to support a network operation. The low price point for an on-site network assessment ($199) provides a good opportunity for businesses to “take the pulse” of their network infrastructure and determine what networking services they’ll need for future business objectives.
Dell’s offerings could cause a fair amount of problems for other hardware competitors, local value-added resellers (VARs) and service providers. The vendor’s strategy threatens IT outsourcing providers such as CenterBeam and Everdream, which manage and support core IT infrastructure components, including desktops, servers and networks.
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