64-Bit Systems Head For The Enterprise Network

Sixty-four-bit computing systems are poised to remake the enterprise network, offering dramatic increases in performance and scalability by virtue of faster computing speeds and increased memory. And it's none too soon, as the deployment of web-based, processor-intensive enterprise applications drives the need for improved performance across all parts of the enterprise LAN and WAN boundaries.

Though now in the minority of the installed base of systems, 64-bit servers with x86-64 capability are showing strong market growth, according to an IDC study, with units, including AMD's Opteron processor, showing an 81 percent growth over the first quarter of 2004. John Humphreys, research manager of IDC's Global Enterprise Server Solutions unit, believes that the recent introduction of Intel's x86-64-based chips will result in robust 64-bit server sales for next year.

Unisys recently reported that 52 percent of its business-intelligence customers last year who purchased high-end Windows servers chose Intel Itanium-2-based Unisys ES7000 servers. "Big data volumes, access to more data sources, and the need for real-time information are creating growing demand for the processing power of 64-bit based servers" said Michael Thomas, vice president of global solutions partners at the firm.

With 64-bit servers and platforms making their way onto the market, application and solution developers are adding 64-bit capability to their offerings. For example, Business Intelligence and real-time-reporting vendor Information Builders announced full support for 64-bit processing in its WebFOCUS product. The firm now offers support for all major 64-bit database-management systems, including Oracle, DB2, Informix, Sybase, Ingres, and Red Brick.

Sixty-four-bit systems also will soon be making their way onto desktop and notebook computers. AMD announced a couple of weeks ago that it achieved a "smooth transition" to a 90-nanometer chip-manufacturing process for low-power Athlon 64-bit chips for thin and lightweight notebook computers. Computer manufacturers are expected to release notebooks with the new 64-bit chips in the next few months.At the same time, the Sunnyvale, Calif., firm announced a new 64-bit chip for high-powered "desktop-replacement" notebooks. The 32-bit/64-bit AMD64 processor 3700+ offers 32-bit performance and compatibility with emerging 64-bit software.

All of this activity is bound to increase the pressure on enterprise and service-provider networks to deliver high-quality, high-speed services and prevent network elements from acting as bottlenecks in multi-media data flows.

"Administrators are going to have to deal with increased content flowing over fixed [wide-area] capacity networks, while LANs and data centers will have to make sure that their edge devices can handle the increased throughput that 64-bit processors are going to feed into the network," says Mark Weiner, vice president of worldwide marketing at NetScaler Inc.

Wise network administrators will plan accordingly and simultaneously update their network infrastructure, to ensure that the network doesn't become the bottleneck for the 64-bit server future.

Microsoft Readies 64-Bit Windows
Customers and vendors are cautiously welcoming Microsoft's first major non-x86 platform in eight years.Intel's 32/64-Bit Chips Spur Interest
Intel's introduction of X86 microprocessors with 64-bit capabilities is expected to speed the migration of desktops and data centers to a new world of 64-bit computing.

VMware Adds Support For 64-Bit 'Host' OSs
VMware, Inc. announced the first versions of its VMware GSX Server and VMware Workstation products with support for a 64-bit Host operating system.

DEEP BACKGROUND

AMD's Ruiz Expects Increased 64 Bit Sales - Desktop Pipeline

Cisco Snaps Up MPLS Smarts - IT Utility PipelineSearch The TechWeb Network