IBM Grid Gives ISVs Remote Access To Hardware

IBM on Thursday unveiled a program for independent software developers (ISVs) that lets them remotely access the Armonk, N.Y.-based computer maker's hardware and software for development and testing.

Using its own grid and on-demand technologies, the company's Virtual Innovation Center for Hardware will apply IBM's Virtualization Engine, Tivoli, and WebSphere technologies to give ISVs remote access to a pool of eServer pSeries servers running the AIX operating system.

ISVs can self-schedule access to one or more servers for up to 14 days, said IBM, and the system will store ISVs' development environments so they can return to the virtual server days, weeks, or even months later for additional testing.

IBM's touting the move as a way to save money shipping evaluation hardware to developers, who won't have to waste time setting up the gear before delving into development and testing. Among the target developers are those that aim their wares at small- and mid-sized businesses.

Additionally, the new program offers a Linux testing feature that lets developers remotely configure and test their applications on Linux.