IBM brings memory flexibility to x86 servers

The new servers will include a blade system, a two-socket rack-mount server and a four-socket rack-mount server.The servers will allow customers to add up to 32 DIMMs of memory, and several terabytes of flash storage to improve I/O throughput, Bradicich says. Customers can also add processors in quantities of either two or four.

Gartner has predicted that fabric-based servers will end up costing significantly more than today's standard x86 machines, but IBM contends that the approach will also allow enterprises to purchase fewer systems.

"This is our first manifestation of taking the PC out of the PC server and making true enterprise capabilities," Bradicich says.

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