IBM Supercharges Applications With New AIX Operating System Features

IBM Supercharges Applications With New AIX Operating System Features

IBM Also Becomes First UNIX Vendor to Offer Product Based on Globus Open Source Grid Management Software

Armonk, N.Y - 22 May 2002: IBM today introduced a host of new high performance features in its AIX operating system that are designed to supercharge compute-intensive applications. The company also announced that it will become the first major UNIX vendor to offer a "productized" version of the Globus Toolkit, the industry's de facto standard open source Grid management software.

The fastest growing UNIX operating system[1], AIX 5L contains the industry's most sophisticated Linux interoperability functions. The features announced today improve the speed of bandwidth-intensive workloads, such as Business Intelligence applications that search massive corporate data warehouses, as well as High Performance Computing applications, such as automobile safety test simulations. The new features include:

Large data transfer-- enabling bigger chunks of information to be accessed more efficiently in the computer's memory. AIX offers support for the traditional 4 KB page size and for the new 16 MB "large page" size. Large page usage increases performance for systems running compute-intensive workloads, such as big commercial databases, which use massive amounts of virtual memory.
Localization -- processors running a particular workload have optimized access to system memory components, further increasing performance.

Grid Software Based on Open Standards

Also today, IBM announced plans to introduce an AIX toolbox for Grid applications, based on the open source protocols from Globus, the recognized leaders in Grid management software.

IBM is the first major UNIX vendor to offer the Globus software in product form, providing customers with the confidence of using an IBM supported product.

The toolbox, which IBM is offering free of charge, is middleware that allows users to share supercomputing power, data and applications as easily as information is shared over the Web.

It joins large numbers of disparate servers into vast mega-computers. Using the software, application developers can also create Grid-based applications. Grid builders using the toolbox on AIX may take advantage of the operating system's advanced scalability and high-availability features.

New in the AIX toolbox are features including ease of use enhancements for install and configuration, enhanced security tools, plus the addition of IBM service and support. Key new additions include a Message Passing Interface (MPI), Advanced Reservation, and IBM LoadLeveler integration. IBM LoadLeveler is a batch job scheduling facility that matches job requirements with the best available resources.

IBM systems running the AIX operating system power some of the world's most compelling Computer Grids. In March 2002, IBM, together with the US Department of Energy's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, announced that two IBM supercomputers running AIX will power a Grid, which will ultimately grow into a system capable of processing more than ten trillion calculations per second and storing information equivalent to 200 times the number of books in the Library of Congress.

Self Managing Operating System - AIX and Project eLiza

AIX is infused with Project eLiza technology, which brings to it a new dimension of manageability over high-performance applications. AIX allows the system to self-configure with features including Capacity Upgrade on Demand and Processor De-allocation. Self-protecting capabilities including First Failure Data Capture, not available on Solaris, and Predictive Failure Analysis, help prevent and contain system outages. AIX is self-healing and manages system redundancy technologies to eliminate unnecessary service calls. Finally, AIX is self-optimizing with advanced functionality including its workload manager and Logical Partitioning (LPAR).

About AIX 5L

AIX 5L, the industry's most open UNIX operating environment, provides higher levels of integration, flexibility and reliability essential for meeting the high demands of today's e-business applications. AIX operates over the complete range of IBM eServer pSeries systems from entry-level servers and workstations to powerful supercomputers. The operating system is fully integrated to support existing 32- and 64-bit hardware systems in their full range of scalability, with key Internet technologies such as Java included as part of the base operating system. A strong affinity between AIX and Linux permits popular applications developed on Linux to run on AIX with a simple recompilation. For more information about AIX visit, http://www.ibm.com/servers/aix.

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com.

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The IBM eServer brand consists of the established IBM e-business logo with the following descriptive term "server'' following it.

IBM, the e-business logo, AIX 5L and pSeries are trademarks of IBM Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively through The Open Group.

All other company, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

[1] According to IDC's Worldwide UNIX Operating Environments Forecast 2002-2006, published March 2002.