IBM expands support for Solaris on x86 Systems

ARMONK, USA: IBM and Sun has announced that IBM will distribute the Solaris Operating System (OS) and Solaris subscriptions for select x86-based IBM System x servers and BladeCenter servers to clients through IBM's routes to market.

The agreement announced today is an extension of IBM's existing support for the Solaris OS on select IBM BladeCenter servers. IBM and Sun's support of interoperability via open standards also means that customers will be able to extend their infrastructure by connecting new platforms easily, while preserving their initial investments.

As part of the expanded support, Sun and IBM will invest in testing and system qualification so joint customers will realize Solaris' performance and reliability on BladeCenter and System x servers. IBM servers that will support the Solaris OS include: IBM BladeCenter HS21 and LS41 servers; and IBM System x3650, System x3755, and System x3850 servers.

"IBM provides the broadest choice of server platforms and operating systems to customers with AIX, Linux for x86 and Power, Microsoft Windows Server and now Solaris," said Bill Zeitler, senior vice president and group executive, IBM Systems & Technology Group.

He added "IBM is the first major x86 vendor to have such an agreement with Sun; and the first big vendor apart from Sun to offer Solaris on blade servers. Today we expand that agreement to help clients migrate to Solaris on IBM x86-based System x servers."

Today's announcement further affirms the value that Solaris OS delivers in Web, application and data-tier deployments. By adding the Solaris OS to its operating system portfolio, IBM is expanding customer choice. And by participating as one of over 800 partners in the IBM BladeCenter ecosystem, Sun has effectively joined others in the industry helping IBM accelerate the development and adoption of open blade server platforms.

"We're thrilled to be working with IBM to bring the Solaris OS to the broadest market possible - they are a natural partner for Sun," said Jonathan Schwartz, president and CEO of Sun Microsystems. "Solaris adoption continues to accelerate, among both the open source and commercial communities -- driven by bundled virtualization for servers and storage, support for thousands of ISVs, including nearly the entirety of IBM's software portfolio, and outstanding operational economics. Solaris is clearly a choice customers are demanding."

The Solaris OS and IBM System x and BladeCenter servers bring to market a mission-critical platform with a wide array of leading configuration options such as native 10G Ethernet, InfiniBand and IBM-attached storage.