Computing Leadership through innovationMunich 23 July 2001 Mary McDowell gave a short overview on the announcement, the 64-bit development, the investment protection and the future of the different platforms. Compaq is converging of all 64-bit enterprise servers, ProLiant, AlphaServer and Himalaya on the Intel IA-64 processor line. It starts the full port of Tru64 UNIX, OpenVMS, NonStop Kernel and the NonStop middleware to IA-64 architecture - the work has just begun. It will be finalised probably in early 2003.
The roadmap
plans the availability of Compaq Enterprise Server development
platforms based on IA-64 family with Tru64 UNIX and Open VMS for
ISVs. In 2004 Compaq enterprise and NonStop Himalaya servers
will use the IA-64 processor. From today till 2003, McKinley
processor, 64-bit Windows and Linux applications will be
transformed. There will be a long-term collaborative technology
and marketing agreement with Intel.
Technology Agreement
McDowell said, that Compaq will transfer 64-bit Alpha-based
technology, tools, and resources to Intel to enhance IA-64
development. This includes the technology, the microprocessor
engineers, compilers, infrastructure, tools and support. Compaq
resources and technology ramp Intel's IA-64 capabilities. The
company will immediately begin transfer of Alpha engineers to
Intel's design team. This means, within the next 28 months,
hundreds of Compaq's microprocessor engineers, compiler experts
and support employees will be transferred to Intel - becoming
Intel employees. Some Compaq development projects, as the EV7
Alpha processor design, will be finalised with the necessary
resources.
Compaq will transfer these components of its Alpha technology to
Intel: microprocessor design tools, memory, switch
interconnects, symmetric multi-processing, compiler and code
technology. On the other hand Compaq will consolidate its server
families to IA-64 up to 2004. The first IA-64 processor with
some ?Alpha-inside" will be Madison in 2004.
Investment Protection for Customers
Existing applications will run seamlessly with today's
generation products. All 64-bit servers will leverage common
Compaq technology. There will be a choice of high-performance
64-bit servers and applications from leading ISVs. The first
Itanium-based ProLiant server will be available in Q3, 2001.
This enables early ISVs and customers applications development.
Compaq's server roadmap
The NonStop Himalaya will support the MIPS-processor technology
up to MIPS R16000 ind 2002 and MIPS speedup in 2003. During 2004
MIPS-based and IA-64 processors in the year allows flexible
migration planning. The ServerNet technology allows 16 node
clusters now, 24 node in 2002, 61 node in 2003. In 2004 the
61-node clusters and the system is InfiniBand ready.
Alpha processors
Compaq gives a commitment for Alpha and a roadmap through 2004
and will continue to deliver improved performance, availability
and scalability. The Alpha EV68 will be delivered in 2002. In
2003 Compaq starts shipping EV7 and in the following years EV7x
systems. In 2004 a 32 processor McKinley-based system is
available.
ProLiant servers
One part is based on Intel IA-32, the DL line. End of this year,
beginning of 2002, Compaq will deliver Quick Blade. There is
further IA-32 server deployment ut to a Hyper Density Future.
The other line starts soon with IA-64 processors, The Titan and
Thor servers.
Uwe Harms |
 |