Compaq in mid-March is expected to announce a slim four-processor Pentium III server aimed at space-conscious IS professionals. Network World Fusion broke the news about this server last Wednesday.
The unannounced ProLiant server can accommodate four new Intel Pentium III 450-MHz to 550-MHz processors, which Intel will announce March 17. The server is available in a 4U configuration, which allows 10 servers to be stacked in a standard rack. A "U" is a standard measurement - 1.75 inches - between holes in rack enclosures.
"Rack-mounted servers are a very strong trend being driven by ISPs and corporations," explains Dan Dolan, industry analyst for Dataquest in San Jose. "ISPs like rack-mounted servers because they can quickly add computing power and applications, and they don't take up more real estate. Corporations are having to assume the role of the ISP, what with corporate intranets and server consolidation."
The ProLiant is expected to have from 256M bytes to 4G bytes of RAM, a 100-MHz front-side bus and a dual Ultra2 SCSI controller, sources say. The server will include a 10/100 Ethernet adapter.
The server can be configured as a rack-mounted device or in a pedestal configuration. Redundant fans and hot-plug redundant power supplies are expected to be optional, sources say. Compaq's Integrated Management Display (IDM) is standard. The IDM is able to report or alert based on a list of critical events, as well as from Compaq Insight Manager and SmartStart.
Sources say the base ProLiant will cost approximately $6,500 with one Pentium III processor, no drives and 256M bytes of memory. Compaq declined to comment on or confirm details in this report.
Compaq is also expected to announce a tool that makes clustering easier and to disclose its eight-processor server plans. o
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