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Servers
Servers
Dropping costs and new technologies have taken the server
market to a new high. While price pressures encourage x86 sales, there is still
room for innovation. By Varun Aggarwal.
 Server
prices have been slashed and now you have different servers catering to different
needs. Server boxes are not only getting cheaper but also smaller and more energy
efficient. While a processor used to consume about 120 to 150 watts a couple
of years back, you can have more powerful processors which consume less than
90 watts of power. It is important to understand your needs before purchasing
a server. However, you can also opt for offerings like on-demand computing wherein
you just pay for what you use. This can prevent wastage of resources if you
are buying a server to meet future requirements.
Server virtualisation was a concept associated only with mainframe systems.
Now, we can achieve server virtualisation even on x86 hardware. Vendors claim
to provide mainframe like reliability in their processors supporting virtualisation.
There are various benefits that can be achieved through virtualisation. Each
workload sees its own operating system, middleware, and communications environment—as
if on a virtual machine. While the virtual machines stand ready to respond to
external requests, they consume very little machine resources or power in the
absence of such requests.
IBM has mainframe systems called System z, some of which
are targeted at the medium and small businesses. They claim to have achieved
better performance than distributed computing with these new mainframes which
also support open source software. The cost has also declined to an extent that
even some medium enterprises are looking to invest in it.
If budgets are low and the applications are not really mission-critical,
there are servers available on the x86 architecture that are priced as low as
Rs. 30,000. Server vendor are very bullish about multi-core architectures and
are leveraging the technology to the best of their advantage. Intel’s 80-core
prototype has already demonstrated the power that this technology holds. With
1 teraflop of power in one single chip, the new age servers might get smaller
than desktops. On many occasions people have replaced their reliable UNIX boxes
with compact and cost-effective x86 servers, even for critical jobs where uptime
of 99.999 percent is required.
64-bit computing has been the norm in the Unix world all along. Now it is picking
up in the x86 space as well. Both AMD and Intel have 64-bit server processors.
The increasing numbers of 64-bit applications have also made these processors
a better proposition. Apart from these basic configurations, reliability still
remains the prime concern in mission-critical jobs. Looking for features like
hardware encryption and other hardware level security features that prevent
attacks like buffer overflow can relieve you of your security concerns, at least
to certain extent.
| Dell PowerEdge 1430
 Powered
by a dual core Xeon Pro 5110 processor, this server is meant for file
and print sharing, dedicated workgroup, e-mail messaging and small Web
server applications. It features PowerEdge SC1430 technology with a 4
MB Cache, 1066 MHZ FSB 512 MB (2x256) DDR-2 533 MHz ECC 1R Fully-Buffered
Memory. It comes bundled with a three years Next Business Day (8x5) Onsite
Response (Parts + Labour) – Standard.
Price: Starts at Rs. 54,900 (Online store
price)
Contact: Dell India
Telephone: 080 25068026
Website: ap.dell.com
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| HCL’s GL 2700 SP
 Aimed
at applications such as mail and Web, and departmental databases, line-of-business
applications, render farms, scale-out of financial services and Java applications,
file/print, networking, application servers and technical
computing. The GL 2700SP is a dual Intel Dual/Quad
core Xeon Processor based server with the Intel 5000V chipset supporting
DDR2-533/667 MHz Fully Buffered DIMM, 800 Mhz FSB, up to 8 GB of DDR RAM
with support for memory sparing, a dual channel Gigabit Ethernet Controller,
PCI Express x4 slot and an Advanced Server Management tool. It is available
in 5U/Tower form factor.
Price: Rs. 30,000 onwards
Contact: Arun Raj
Telephone: 120 2555109
E-mail: webhost@hcl.in
Website: hclinfosystems.in
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| IBM System x3400
 This
two socket tower model features an Intel dual core Xeon processor 5050
3.0 GHz with 4 MB L2 cache, 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 memory, a 160 GB SATA HDD,
six I/O slots including PCI-X, Active PCI and high-performance PCI-Express,
IBM Director and ServerGuide and a three year warranty.
Price: Rs. 81,750
Contact: Aditya Gaurav
Telephone: 1800 4253333, 080 22063437
E-mail: adgaurav@in.ibm.com
Website: ibm.com/in/xoffers
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| Wipro NetPower Z1502
 This
dual core Intel Xeon based single CPU server can support up to 8 GB of
RAM. It comes with a 3 Gbps SATA II HDD, 800FSB/1066FSB support, S3000
chipset, PCI Express x 4, PCI Express x 8 and two PCI 32-bit/33 MHz slots.
There is also an option for Pentium CPUs.
Price: Rs. 32,500 onwards
Contact: Vinoo Srinivas
Telephone: 1800 3453312
E-mail: vinoo.srinivas@wipro.com
Website: wipro.in
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| HP ProLiant ML350 G5 SERVER
 This
server sports a dual-core Intel Xeon processor 5050 3 GHz with 4
MB L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB. It comes with dual processor capability, 512
MB of RAM, PC2-5300 fully buffered DIMMs with Advanced ECC Protection,
Smart Array E200i SAS Controller with a 64 MB Cache and a three year comprehensive
warranty.
Price: Rs.1,25,000 (Local levies and taxes
extra)
Contact: Aneesh Dhawan
Telephone: 080 25041586
E-mail: aneesh.dhawan@hp.com
Website: hp.com/in
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| Apple Xserve
 This
server has a dual-core Intel Xeon processor running at up to 3.0GHz. For
storage, there's support for both SATA and SAS and up to 2.25 TB of internal
capacity. An internal ATI Radeon X1300 PCI Express graphics is included
with mini-DVI output and VGA support. There are dual redundant power supplies.
All this can be controlled from across the hall or around the world with
integrated lights-out management hardware and software.
The PCI Express-based architecture provides a 1.33GHz
front side processor bus and massive I/O throughput including two available
x8 PCI Express slots. With advanced ECC data protection and high-bandwidth
FB-DIMM memory, Xserve features a 256-bit-wide memory controller providing
up to 21.3 GBps throughput to main memory and support for up to 32 GB
of 667 MHz DDR2 ECC RAM.
Price: Single Processor: Rs. 2,44,800
Dual Processor: Rs. 3,06,800
Cluster Node: Rs. 2,46,000
Contact: Avinash Ramachandra
Phone: 080 25550575
E-mail: avinash.ramachandra@asia.apple.com
Website: apple.co.in
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Acer Altos G330
 The
server is powered by a dual-core Intel Xeon 3000 sequence processor or
Intel Pentium D dual- core processor with EM64T and virtualisation support.
It offers up to 8 GB of DDR2 667 memory and integrated Gigabit Ethernet.
The chassis design provides better access and manageability via tool-less
front bezel, side panel, HDD cage, expansion slots and more. The system
also has a combination of PCI Express x8 slots and PCI slots. There are
optional components like Acer EasyBUILD that lets you install most popular
operating systems and Acer Server Manager 7.1 that allows you to manage
your server.
Price: Rs. 39,999 (Estimated Street price
– starting price, depending on the configuration price will increase)
Contact : Kamesh Kumar
Telephone: 080 25219520
E-mail: Kamesh_Kumar@acer.co.in
Website: acer.co.in
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| IBM BladeCenter HS21
 This
blade server comes with dual-core Intel Xeon 5160 up to 3.00 GHz
or quad-core Intel Xeon E5345 up to 2.33 GHz and up to 1333 MHz
front-side bus which supports up to 4 MB L2 shared (dual-core) or 2 x
4 MB L2 (quad-core) cache. It has one Small Form Factor (2.5”) 10,000
rpm SAS HDD installed on each blade and one optional internal IBM 4 GB
Modular Flash Drive (plus support for up to three hot-swap SAS drives
with optional Storage and I/O blade). This supports integrated RAID-0
or -1 standard on blade server, integrated RAID-1E or RAID-5 optional
with SIO Blade. For networking, it has Dual Gigabit Ethernet (TOE capable)
with up to 12 ports optional with SIO blade and MSIM card. It even has
a starter kit which includes three Intel Dual Core Blades, 1 Chassis,
two power supplies, an Ethernet switch and installation.
Price: Rs. 5,65,600 onwards for a starter
kit
Contact: Aditya Gaurav
Telephone: 080 22063437, 1800 4253333
E-mail: adgaurav@in.ibm.com
Website: ibm.com/in/xoffers
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| Wipro NetPower Z2701.
 The
server comes with two dual-core Intel Xeon processors 1.60 GHz, 1.86 GHz,
2.0 GHz, 2.33 GHz, 2.66 GHz; 4 MB L2 cache with 1066 or 1333 MHz front
side bus or two quad-core Intel Xeon Processors 1.6 GHz, 1.86 GHz, 2.0
GHz and 2.33 GHz with 8 MB L2 Cache; both running on the Intel E5000P
Chipset. Memory support from 1 to 16 GB exists. The server supports up
to two internal 2.5-inch Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) hard disk drives,
and three hot swap 2.5-inch SAS hard drives and RAID 5 with an optional
Blade Storage Expansion Module. Some of the integrated functions include,
Two Gigabit Ethernet controllers support full duplex, Wake on LAN, teaming
and failover, TCP/IP Offload Engine (TOE) and ATI Rage RN-50 video controller.
Price: Rs 117,500 onwards
Contact: Vinoo Srinivas
Telephone: 1800 3453312
E-mail: vinoo.srinivas@wipro.com
Website: wipro.in
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| HCL 2700 CT
 It
supports one or two dual-core Intel Xeon processors with 4 MB L2 cache
running at 1066 or 1333 MHz FSB (front side bus). It provides cable less,
hot-plug connection for all system components. Its storage options includes
integrated SAS storage expansion unit, NAS through Ethernet, or SAN through
fibre channel. It comes with Intel light-guided diagnostics service processor.
Server blades can be monitored and controlled remotely which increases
server uptime and lowers management costs
Price: Rs. 5,00,000
Contact: Saurabh Surana
Telephone: 0120 2544528
E-mail: webhost@hcl.in
Website: hclinfosystems.in
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| Wipro NetPower 230 GS.
 This
server can support up to two dual-core AMD Opteron CPUs. It comes with
the AMD8131 & AMD 8111 chipset. It can support upto 16 GB of memory,
two way interleaved (upto 8 GB with a single CPU and upto 16 GB with dual
CPUs) 8 DIMM sockets. It has a PCI bus architecture and comes with six
PCI slots. It has an optional SCSI RAID. It comes with ATI RageXl with
8 MB of video memory. It provides support for eight Hot swap SCSI HDD.
Price: Rs. 62,500 onwards
Contact: Vinoo Srinivas
Telephone: 1800 3453312
E-mail: vinoo.srinivas@wipro.com
Website: wipro.in
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| IBM System x3105
 This
server comes with AMD Opteron 1000 series (dual-core) or AMD Athlon
3500+ (single-core) with 2x1 MB or 512 KB cache. It has 512 MB
of DDR II 667 MHz memory and can support up to 8 GB via four
DIMM slots. It comes with a 80 GB SATA HDD and can support up to 1.5 TB
SATA of storage. It supports operating system RAID-0, -1; hardware-based
RAID-0, -1 optional. This server can support Windows Small Business
Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition/Enterprise Edition,
Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Novell
NetWare.
Price: Rs. 39,990
Contact: Aditya Gaurav
Telephone: 080 22063437, 1800 4253333
E-mail: adgaurav@in.ibm.com
Website: ibm.com/in/xoffers
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