Intelligent Data Centres Issue 51 | Page 60

IBM expands data centre options with z16 and LinuxONE 4 for flexibility , sustainability and security

IBM has unveiled new single frame and rack mount configurations of IBM z16 and IBM LinuxONE 4 , expanding their capabilities to a broader range of data centre environments .

Based on IBM ’ s Telum processor , the new options are designed with sustainability in mind for highly efficient data centres , helping clients adapt to a digitised economy and ongoing global uncertainty .
Introduced in April 2022 , the IBM z16 multi frame has helped transform industries with real-time AI inferencing at scale and quantum-safe cryptography . IBM LinuxONE Emperor 4 , launched in September 2022 , features capabilities that can reduce both energy consumption and data centre floor space while delivering the scale , performance and security that clients need . The new single frame and rack mount configurations expand client infrastructure choices and help bring these benefits to data centre environments where space , sustainability and standardisation are paramount . a hybrid cloud . These challenges can be compounded by more stringent environmental regulations and continuously rising costs .
IBM z16 and LinuxONE 4 offerings are built for the modern data centre to help optimise flexibility and sustainability , with capabilities for partition-level power monitoring and additional environmental metrics . For example , consolidating Linux workloads on an IBM LinuxONE Rockhopper 4 instead of running them on compared x86 servers with similar conditions and location can reduce energy consumption by 75 % and space by 67 %. These new configurations are engineered to deliver the same hallmark IBM security and transaction processing at scale .
Designed and tested to the same internal qualifications as the IBM z16 high availability portfolio , the new rackoptimised footprint is designed for use with client-owned , standard 19-inch racks and power distribution units . This new footprint opens opportunities to include systems in distributed environments with other servers , storage , SAN and switches in one rack , designed to optimise both colocation and latency for complex computing , such as training AI models .
For critical industries , like healthcare , financial services , government and insurance , a secure , available IT environment is key to delivering highquality service to customers . IBM z16 and LinuxONE 4 are engineered to provide the highest levels of reliability in the industry , 99.99999 % availability to support mission-critical workloads as part of a hybrid cloud strategy . Emerging threats require protection and the new configurations offer security capabilities that include confidential computing , centralised key management and quantum-safe cryptography to help thwart bad actors planning to ‘ harvest now , decrypt later ’. � intelligent INFRASTRUCTURE
“ IBM remains at the forefront of innovation to help clients weather storms generated by an ever-changing market ,” said Ross Mauri , General Manager , IBM zSystems and LinuxONE . “ We ’ re protecting clients ’ investments in existing infrastructure while helping them to innovate with AI and quantum-safe technologies . These new options let companies of all sizes seamlessly co-locate IBM z16 and LinuxONE Rockhopper 4 with distributed infrastructure , bringing exciting capabilities to those environments .”
Organisations in every industry are balancing an increasing number of challenges to deliver integrated digital services . According to a recent IBM Transformation Index report , security , managing complex environments and regulatory compliance were cited as challenges to integrating workloads in
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