Omnicluster Technologies' Slot Server 1000 allows service providers to use PCI slots to add new servers or expand existing servers. Patent-pending technology includes special network management and GUI network interface.

by Wayne Kawamoto [July 17, 2001]

Omnicluster Technologies recently introduced its SlotServer 1000, a full function server on a PCI card that helps ISPs expand server capacity and functionality.

The SlotServer 1000, a half-length PCI card, combines an x86 based server system with a patent-pending, integrated high-speed network. According to the company, multiple SlotServers may be clustered inside standard servers to provide additional server functions or expand an existing server's capacity.

The company says that the product decreases the costly infrastructure necessary to build and maintain server farms, which enables network managers to amortize their existing investment in network infrastructure, RAID, disk storage, and server chassis hardware.

The company developed the patent pending "inside-the-box" SlotServer solution so service providers can expand cost-effectively by augmenting, rather than adding conventional rack-mount servers.

The SlotServer works in Linux, Windows 2000, NT, and BSD operating system environments and should be compatible with the applications supported by those operating systems, which include web servers, firewalls, load balancers and distributed computing. SlotServers may also be configured with an attached disk (diskfull) or a host-shared disk (diskless).

OmniCluster also offers Virtual Disk Manager (VDM), a supporting GUI software manager that should allow for an easy, user-friendly set-up of SlotServer cards. The software's architecture should allow "drag and drop" configuration and replication of common SlotServer configurations in seconds or replacement of corrupted files either through local or remote network access. According to the company, data center customers experiencing high growth demands can use Virtual Disk Manager to quickly and easily deploy and manage hundreds of SlotServers within their network in a matter of minutes, bringing necessary end-user applications on-line in a timely manner.

"IT managers now have the ability to put a significantly greater number of servers in a 7-foot industry-standard rack, and to utilize every available inch of computer-room space without adding additional power sources, network connections, power supplies, fans, disk-drives or server boxes," said Christopher Fleck, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Why add more rack space when you can expand from "within", and double, triple or quadruple your data center's server capacity and function without spending money on moving walls, adding power, or new facilities?"

Pricing and availability
The SlotServer 1000 is available now and costs $499.

—End