Oracle launches new Sparc servers in India, aims at IBM

BANGALORE, INDIA: After its global launch a few weeks back, Oracle has announced the launch of its new Sparc T5 and M5 servers, powered by its T5 and M5 microprocessors, in India as well.

These new servers join Oracle's existing entry-level Sparc T4 servers to complete Oracle's Sparc portfolio that now extends from entry-level to midrange and high-end.

As per the company, the new Sparc T5 is the world's fastest processor today with up to three times faster application performance than IBM or any other competing platform.

Oracle also adds that the Sparc T5-8 is the fastest single server for Oracle database. The Sparc T8-5 has a 2.5x price performance advantage over the IBM P780 3-node cluster when including all hardware and software costs.

According to Oracle, it beats IBM p-series servers on price and performance on a variety of Oracle applications, including running JD Edwards with a 23x price performance advantage, and running Oracle Siebel CRM with a 7x price performance advantage. The Sparc T5 server also has breakthrough price performance for ERP with a five times price performance advantage over IBM helping to generate greater user productivity and improve business efficiencies, it adds.

Venkatesh Krishnan, vice president, Systems Business, Oracle India, said: "With this launch, we want our customers to know that Oracle continues to invest heavily in its Sparc platform and has set itself aggressive targets to consistently deliver innovations that set new standards in performance. Our new servers provide up to 2.3x performance improvement over the previous generation processor."

Oracle will adopt a three-pronged go-to-market strategy for its new Sparc range in the country. The company will leverage its sales and sales consulting teams to demonstrate price/performance advantage to its existing and new customers. Oracle's large partner base includes systems integrators such as TCS, Wipro, HCL and others, value added distributors such as Avnet, Redington and tier-2 partners to gain market penetration for the new range. Finally, ISVs who have applications developed on Oracle's Solaris operating system will ask their customers to choose the new SPARC range for clear performance gains, as per a release.

"Oracle strives to build the best microprocessor, the best servers, the best storage and competes in delivering individual product elements of the technology stack. We also make sure our products work together better. That is why Oracle also announced three new Oracle Optimized Solutions that exploit the performance, reliability and value of SPARC T5 servers, Oracle storage, Oracle Database and Middleware. These new solutions maximize software performance and availability while lowering acquisition cost and operating expenses," Mitesh Agarwal, CTO & director-Systems Solution Consulting, Oracle India said.