IBM Adds PowerLinux 7R4 Server For Cloud Workloads

IBM has revealed the addition of a new system for analytics and cloud computing, namely the new PowerLinux 7R4 server.

Big Blue bolstered its Linux on Power initiative with the new high-performance PowerLinux server as well as new software and middleware for embracing big data, analytics and next-generation Java applications in an open cloud environment.

Heavy Workloads

“More clients are choosing IBM’s Power Systems designed to handle mission-critical and complex cloud and big data workloads in an open Linux environment,” said Doug Balog, general manager for IBM Power Systems, in a statement. “Responding to this need, we are aggressively investing in our open ecosystem – including new products, applications and collaborations – that support today’s emerging Linux workloads.”

The new PowerLinux 7R4 server is built on the same Power Systems platform running IBM’s Watson cognitive computing platform. Moreover, IBM is expanding the portfolio of software for Power Systems with the availability of the company’s Cognos Business Intelligence and EnterpriseDB database software.

IBM said the new model is the high-end addition to its lineup of Power Systems PowerLinux servers running Linux from Red Hat and SUSE. Joining the PowerLinux 7R1 and 7R2, the PowerLinux 7R4 delivers greater performance with up to four sockets and 32 cores. The system is targeted at compute-intensive workloads including analytics, cloud, cognitive computing, database and Web infrastructure, IBM reported.

For users seeking to operate both Linux and IBM’s AIX or IBM i operating system software, IBM offers Linux across its entire Power Systems portfolio. And with IBM’s PowerVM virtualisation tools, users can partition any Power Systems server into separate virtual servers, with some running Linux-based applications and others running AIX or IBM i applications.

Database Options

Regarding database software, in addition to IBM DB2 database software for Linux, IBM announced that EnterpriseDB’s PostgreSQL-based database solution is now available on all Power Systems servers running Linux.