HP launches 64-bit enterprise servers

Sixty-four-bit computing is the way of the future for Hewlett-Packard, which has introduced a broad range of new enterprise servers running on its new PA-8000 Risc chip.

Even in New Zealand, large government departments and financial organisations are going to need 64-bit systems soon, according to Australian product marketing manager John Knaggs.

“Some application servers will become bottle-necked with increased loading,” he says. “We’ve played 32-bit chips as far as we can.

“This announcement means that where users are hitting lack of headroom, they can now count on a cost-effective upgrade path.”

The new product range--most of which is shipping now for availability in New Zealand in four to six weeks--includes four new K-class models, two new entry-level D-class models and--available next April a new T-class mainframe alternative which supports up to 12-way SMP processing.

Knaggs says there’s been a fair amount of competition from Compaq in the file and print server market and that the new releases will provide more than double the power of a four-way Pentium Pro configuration.

“All the Risc vendors are feeling the heat from that. This is a key differentiator for us.”

HP, though, is pinning its future on both the Unix and NT markets.

“We’re saying the future lies with a combination of Unix and NT,” Knaggs says. “The bottom line is that we want to be the best at integrating these two environments.”

He thinks NT will consume a majority of the print and file area, and low-end application server market. “It will move up the enterprise over time.”