NEWDELHI,INDIA: In a significant transformation of its worldwide data centers in a generation, IBM has announced that it will consolidate thousands of computer servers onto about 30 System z mainframes running the Linux operating system.

The company anticipates that the new server environment will consume approximately 80 percent less energy than the current set up and expects to save IBM more than $250 million over five years in energy, software and system support costs.

At the same time, the transformation will make IBM's IT infrastructure more flexible to evolving business needs. The initiative is part of Project Big Green, a broad commitment that IBM announced in May to sharply reduce data center energy consumption for IBM and its clients.

IBM, with over 8,000,000 square feet of data center space (equivalent to 139 football fields), operates the world's largest data center operations, with major locations in New York, Connecticut, Colorado, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia.

"As one of the world's largest technology providers, IBM consistently assesses how our systems can be maximized to support our employees and clients," said Sreenath Chary, Business Unit Executive, System z, IBM India/South Asia. "A global account consolidation truly demonstrates that IBM is committed to driving stronger energy and technology optimization, and cost savings."

"The mainframe is the single most powerful instrument to drive better economics and energy conservation at the data center today," said James Stallings, general manager, IBM System z mainframe. "By moving globally onto the mainframe platform, IBM is creating a technology platform that saves energy while positioning our IT assets for flexibility and growth."