Unisys is taking a wait and see attitude on Linux. The Unisys Enterprise Server ES7000, which was introduced early in 2002, ships standard with the Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and provides scalability to 16 processors. Users that want to use Linux, though, can partition the server to run both Windows and Linux simultaneously.
Many other vendors report, though, that both the Linux OS and Intel's processors are ready for prime time. Some users are becoming interested in investing in a server using only Linux as the stability and reliability of the products are proven, and software and tools become readily available. "It takes time for a new architecture, like the Itanium [to be completely supported and stable]," said Andy Fenselau, SGI Altix product line director at the Mountain View, Calif.-based company. "Now that we are into the fourth year, the tools are finally coming together. And at the hardware level, we are getting mean time between failure (MTBF) ratings that are better than Unix boxes."
In addition, many major ISVs are jumping on the Linux bandwagon and are providing their mainstream applications running on Linux. Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif., for example, has announced Linux support for most of its key offerings, including Oracle9i Database with Real Application Clusters, Oracle9i Application Server, Oracle Collaboration Suite, Oracle9i Developer Suite and Oracle E-Business Suite.
In January 2003, SGI unveiled its Altix 3000 family of servers and superclusters. The systems, which primarily are aimed at technical computer users in the manufacturing, oil and gas, life sciences, academic and defense markets, feature the company's shared-memory NUMAflex architecture and Intel Itanium 2 processors. The systems are available today in server configurations of 4 to 64 processors, and supercluster configurations of 4 to 512 processors.
"Fifty [percent] to 60 percent of processor power is used for communications overhead [in traditional systems]," said Fenselau. "The shared memory system literally makes all of that go away, so that, at full memory bus speeds, I/O bus speeds are 10 to 30times faster."
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
