IBM unveils data storage systems

International Business Machines (IBM)

Corp. is introducing a new generation of high-volume data storage systems as part of a bid

to recapture momentum from EMC Corp., the dominant storage systems provider, in a business

IBM pioneered decades ago.

The new Enterprise Storage server (ESS) code named

"Shark" is designed to provide large organizations a means of handling massive

data storage requirements fuelled by spiraling Internet use. The product is part of a new

generation of enterprise storage systems to provide performance, scalability and access to

data across enterprise computing environments.

ESS is designed to grow with customer requirements and to

incorporate the latest storage innovations with a modular, "snap-in" design that

allows users to add additional storage capacity, performance and connectivity over time

using the same platform.

The product can scale up to 11 terabytes and includes two

four-way symmetric multi-processors, serial storage architecture and additional

non-volatile memory. The new storage systems, together with a refreshed line of storage

tape backup products, help organizations record and track the massive volumes of

information they create each day.

The products are designed to compete with EMC, the long

time leader in so-called "open" storage systems that are designed to work with

all major computer systems. Most corporate data storage systems are built by computer

makers to work mainly with their own computer systems.

ESS is delivering a technology that customers can count on

as they continue to implement data-intensive applications. IBM expects the system to hit

the market in September and is planning to offer a deferred payment programme offering

customers a free payment deferral of up to 110 days so they can install the system and use

the new storage technology without impact to their 1999 budgets.