Two new servers debuted this week. Turbolinux announced the next version of its beefy server, and RLX Technologies showcased a compact 1U server with server blade technology running Windows 2000 or Red Hat.

by Amy Newman of serverwatch.internet.com [November 9, 2001]

Two companies announced Linux-compatible server releases this week. Turbolinux announced a big, robust, fully-featured product and RLX technologies announced a small 1U streamlined server.

Turbocharge your Linux
Turbolinux Inc., announced Wednesday that the next release of Turbolinux Server is on the way.

Based on Linux Kernel 2.4, Turbolinux 7 Server offers 64 GB of memory, a journal file system, a 128-bit SSL library, and 32 SMP support.

It is scheduled to begin shipping on December 7.

Turbolinux is focusing on enterprise business needs with this release, as it tried to design this version of the server with extreme flexibility and functionality in mind.

"Turbolinux 7 Server offers businesses a highly secure, high-performance operating system," Pete Beckman, vice president of engineering for Turbolinux said in a prepared statement.

Key features in Turbolinux 7 Server include: large file support, logical volume manager, and multilanguage support and international certification.

Turbolinux 7 Server's large file support capabilities enable users to transfer files up to 4 TB. According to Turbolinux, the increasing use of Linux in animation production and for scientific clustering, as well as the continued growth of PC/x86 hardware for those applications, illustrates the need for large file support.

The logical volume manager provides flexible disk volume management and enables organizations to manage storage in a logical manner. For example, customers can combine several disk drives to function as a single disk to extend storage capacity.

Turbolinux 7 Server offers multilanguage support and is the first Linux product to conform to the basic-level specifications of the LI18NUX 2000 pilot program. (LI18NUX is a voluntary working group consisting of Linux and open-source-related contributors working on the internationalization of Linux distributions.)

To further support internationalization, Turbolinux 7 Server is also compliant with the new Chinese code standard, GB 18030, because China has mandated that any software application released for the Chinese market after September 2001 support it.

Turbolinux 7 Server is based on Linux file directory standards and has passed the FHS test suites.

Rocketlogix packs a small package
RLX Technologies (RLX stands for Rocketlogix) Tuesday unveiled the RLX System 1U, an offering that converts 1U of rack space into a high-density, a six-blade solution.

The RLX System 1U (shown left) is designed to complement the 3U footprint of the RLX System 324, providing customers with the added transition benefit of being able to use already installed ServerBlades in a new, smaller system.

Due to its size and density, RLX sees the RLX System 1U as an ideal solution for enterprises that manage servers remotely. Customers can also replace every part of the RLX System 1U (power supplies, server blades, and so on), simplifying the servicing process in remote offices.

"The RLX System 1U together with the RLX Control Tower management software will translate into lower cost and time requirements for managing these ultradense ServerBlades. The RLX System 1U redefines how server customers will think of their 1U rack space," RLX Chairman Gary Stimac said in a prepared statement.

"Traditional 1U server customers can now smoothly transition to ServerBlades and immediately experience four times' better operating cost, 75 percent faster installation time, six times' better space utilization and increased manageability," added RLX President and COO Pat Collins.

"The RLX System 1U solution provides customers with a seamless method for converting their data centers to higher density ServerBlade solutions without changing their physical environment," Collins further noted.

The RLX System 1U is certified for use with Microsoft Windows 2000 for Web Servers, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Red Hat Linux 7.1.

RLX ServerBlades ship with Microsoft Windows 2000 for Web Servers or Red Hat Linux 7.1 pre-loaded. It can also be ordered without an operating system preinstalled.

RLX's Control Tower Management Software is available with the product at no charge.

The RLX System 1U is scheduled to ship later this month. It will be priced starting at $999 per chassis. The product is also available as part of a promotional bundle. Through November 30, enterprises can purchase one RLX System 1U chassis and two ServerBlades for $2,699.

RLX products are sold through the company's direct sales force at +1 866 759 9866, and from its website, as well as through IBM's Web Server Division (+1 512 838 5626).

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