Hybrid cloud boost: IBM unveils new servers, software and solutions

• Hybrid cloud requires new levels of openness, integration, etc.
• Power Systems, Spectrum Storage, Middleware, SoftLayer and OpenStack

IBM Corp has announced new servers, and storage software and solutions that it said would help more clients create hybrid cloud computing environments.

Businesses are increasingly adopting hybrid cloud environments to integrate existing technology investments (systems of record) with new workloads in the cloud (systems of engagement), driven by mobile, big data and social computing, IBM said in a statement.
 
These systems bring new waves of data that can make moving computing workloads around a challenge because they reside in a variety of on-premises data centres and inside public and private clouds.
 
The combination of IBM Power Systems, Spectrum Storage, Middleware, SoftLayer and OpenStack software can help clients more simply navigate between these environments and gain valuable insights on key business data, the company claimed.

“IBM hybrid cloud solutions are built for the enterprise and clients are using them to help enable new business models to drive growth,” said Don Boulia, vice president of Cloud Services, IBM Systems.
 
“Hybrid cloud computing requires new levels of openness, dynamic data management, integration, automation and scalable performance in server, storage and software technologies.
 
“IBM brings all of these technologies together from on-premises data centres and inside public and private clouds to more efficiently manage traditional computing with new mobile, big data and social computing workloads,” he claimed.
 
The new products include:

• IBM Power System E850: The industry's first 4-socket system with flexible capacity and up to 70% guaranteed utilisation, aimed at cloud service providers or medium and large enterprises looking to securely and efficiently deploy multi-tenancy workloads.

• IBM PurePower System: Offers secure, quick-to-deploy compute, networking and storage converged infrastructure for a cloud with open choice.

• IBM Spectrum Control Storage Insights: Building on its US$1-billion investment in IBM Spectrum Storage, this new Software-as-a-Service solution provides data management as a hybrid cloud service to optimise on-premises storage infrastructures.

• IBM XIV GEN 3: New system designed for the cloud with IBM Real-time Compression that dramatically reduces total cost of ownership, the company claimed. IBM’s XIV grid architecture integrated real-time compression technology can store 50% to 80% more data and with little or no application impact.

• Big Storage Technology: A technology preview of a new active cloud archive service for clients to store large amounts of data and easily retrieve it on demand, at the lowest cost possible.

• Rocket's Mainframe Data Access Service on Bluemix: Provides clients a simple, seamless and secure connection to data on the IBM z Systems mainframe for development of new mobile and hybrid cloud apps through Bluemix. Starting in June, clients can access a free trial of the service, which provides universal access to the data, regardless of location interface or format.

Many IBM Software products are available for monthly licensing, including its WebSphere Application Server starting at US$166 per month, per core. Clients can freely move monthly licences between on-premises and public and private clouds as needed, including on IBM SoftLayer and third-party clouds.

IBM said its clients are cloud-enabling their existing enterprise applications and deploying across on-premises and hybrid cloud environments without changing these applications using IBM PureApplication Service on SoftLayer.
 
In June, IBM will deliver a self-service portal for clients to scale their infrastructure and software licence footprint for hybrid deployments in minutes using PureApplication Service.
 
Click here for a complete list of IBM Software capabilities available for hybrid clouds.

IBM said it is also offering try-before-you-buy access to key middleware software products for hybrid cloud computing. For a limited time, clients can use WebSphere Application Server on-premises and run the same capacity in a public cloud at no charge.
 
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