Sun Comes With a Four-Socket, Quad-Core Server

Sun Microsystems offered today the first information about its brand new server system, a four socket computer based on quad core Intel processors packed in a 2U configuration. The new server is based on Intel quad core Xeon 7300 central processing units which were released officially today. At the same time, Intel announced that the Sun made operating system Solaris is the only mission critical UNIX based system fully compatible with the new generation of Xeon processors while recommending at the same time this software platform to all x86 compatible server makers.

According to a Sun press release concerning the new server, a number of important tasks are very well supported like network services consolidation, database applications and extended virtualization support. The new Sun servers based on Intel Xeon processors are expected to become widely available within the next two months. As the entire server manufacturing industry as well as customers are now looking toward energy efficiency and increased hardware density which result in saved space and costs, Sun included a number of unique innovations and technologies into its new server design. Coming soon will be a number of various server systems based on the Sun design and incorporating Intel's new quad core processors from the Xeon 7300 product line.

"Sun's mission is to design and deliver the industry's most innovative, high performance, energy-efficient systems on the market," said John Fowler, executive vice president of Sun Microsystems' Systems Group. "The Quad-Core Intel Xeon 7300 series platform enables us to build a whole new range of servers that integrate the very best features in system design, virtualization and system management. We will soon be introducing the industry's first 2U, four-socket quad-core systems based on the Xeon processor 7300 series, delivering benefits of common manageability, serviceability and maximum performance."

Intel's support for the Solaris operating system is extended to the mainstream and enterprise class of servers and applications which are based on the brand new series of server intended quad core Xeon processing units. Apart from the Intel Xeon processors, the new Sun server uses some hardware level virtualization technology based on the unique Intel Virtualization Technology while offering a high level of performance thanks to its integrated PC2-5300 667 MHz fully buffered DDR2 DIMMs. Apart from the Solaris open source operating system the new Sun servers will run Linux, Windows and VMware systems too. Because of its smart design, high server densities may be achieved like 2-RU form factor which offers support for up to 16 CPU processing cores and 128Gb of random access memory as well as 1 TB of disk storage, 4 Gigabit-Ethernet ports and 6 PCI-Express slots.