Midrange Stuff, OS/400 Edition

IBM today begins shipping a new version of its WebSphere Application Server running on Linux and the latest iSeries and pSeries hardware. While IBM has had the WebSphere software running on Intel-based Linux environments for some time, WebSphere Application Server 5.02 marks the first time WebSphere is supported in Linux environments running Power4 chips. The announcement fulfills a key part of IBM's Linux strategy, and augments the availability of Tivoli and DB2 software on these Linux platforms.

IBM says WAS 5.02 for Linux on Power4 software will interest companies that are looking to migrate their WebSphere-based Java applications to more capable servers. Banks, retailers, manufacturers, government agencies, and others that have begun to adopt Linux may be looking for a more reliable server to run their large Java workloads, IBM says. In particular, this new offering is expected to generate interest among companies that have developed WebSphere applications running on Intel-based Microsoft Windows servers.

New financing is also being delivered with this new release of WAS. Companies in the United States that buy the new software before September 30 can defer payments until January 2004. Canadian companies are offered the same deal, but they must purchase before September 15. This deal comes on top of a rebate IBM is making available to organizations that purchase a new iSeries server and run Linux workloads on it. That rebate is valued at $1,000 for an iSeries Model 810 and $2,500 for a Model 825 purchase or upgrade. The rebate is also good through September.

Last week's announcement of WAS 5.02 on Linux brought three of IBM's most important elements together for the first time. WebSphere Application Server is important because it's IBM's core Java-powered e-business engine, while Power4 technology represents IBM's chip-making prowess and its greatest profit engine outside of the mainframe. Linux is central to IBM's business strategy, as it seeks to offer alternatives to small and midsized businesses that would otherwise buy Wintel systems.

IBM already supports Linux with several key applications, including WebSphere Application Server and various DB2 and Tivoli products. However, these Linux software products most often support to IBM's two most popular Linux platforms: Intel-based xSeries servers and the zSeries mainframe.

IBM still has a way to go in terms of adapting its software to run in Linux environments on its 64-bit Power4 servers, but it is making steady progress. Last month, IBM committed to supporting both versions of WebSphere Commerce server, the Professional and Business editions--as well as development tools--on its array of Linux platforms, including Intel, Power4, and zSeries platforms. Also, earlier this year, IBM quietly started shipping versions of its DB2 database and Tivoli systems management software for Power4-based Linux.

WAS 5.02 and WAS 5.02 Network Deployment for Power4-based Linux are available today. These products cost $10,000 and $15,000 per processor, respectively. WAS 5.02 Enterprise will be available July 25 and will cost $30,000 per processor.

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