University, Energy Marketplace Choose IBM eServer p5

Two new customers have signed on for IBM's eServer p5 systems.

IBM announced Thursday that Bryant University and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) have chosen the systems.

Bryant is moving its entire data center to the IBM POWER microprocessor architecture with Red Hat Enterprise Linux for a campus-wide effort to teach and participate in open source computing. The infrastructure will combine an integrated platform of IBM eServer p5 550 and BladeCenter JS20 systems running Linux with IBM TotalStorage DS4400 disk storage.

It leverages Logical Partitioning to migrate the university’s enterprise resource planning application, SCT Banner, and consolidate five proprietary Solaris servers to two POWER 5 systems. The university has already consolidated 35 other print and application systems onto six eServer xSeries and BladeCenter HS20 systems.

The system will support the university’s student information, financial records, human resource information, class schedules and alumni applications. Students will be able to hone their computer skills in application development, while gathering technical expertise for future job opportunities. The university, in Smithfield, R.I., can expect a 25 percent reduction in overhead costs, according to IBM.The migration is scheduled for completion in 2006.

ICE, the world’s largest electronically traded energy marketplace, will also use IBM’s p5 with AIX platform. The move is expected to triple the exchange’s data center processing power, speed up trade completions, improve reliability and reduce operating costs by $300,000 a year.

IBM’s pSeries servers, based on IBM’s POWER5 processors, will support more than 7,000 energy market participants each month. The Internet-based trading platform is expected to replace telephone transactions while increasing trading availability, supporting higher volume, improving efficiency and scalability and reducing costs.

In addition to choosing the eServer p5 570, ICE worked with IBM to build a storage area network for enhanced continuity, redundancy and system recovery.