Subscription software?

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 2 Jul 2002 at 17:35

IBM's Global Services unit has launched its Linux Virtual Services to the world. This is its managed hosting facilities where customers can pay for capacity on-demand to run their Linux applications.

For the equivalent of $300 per month for each 'service unit', IBM plans to sell the services on the strength that customers only pay for what they need, rather than shelling out for hardware, software and management services capable of coping with any peak condition imaginable. A service unit is deemed the equivalent processing power, storage and networked capacity of roughly one third of that provided by a typical single-processor Intel server.

Linux Virtual Services is based around hosting centres consisting of IBM's zSeries mainframes, running SuSE Linux, on which virtual servers to accommodate customers' needs are partitioned off as required.

IBM claims to be able to offer additional capacity to customers within minutes, once the service has been activated. An additional 10 per cent buffer capacity is provided free. Customers can also purchase more capacity in line with scheduled peaks. For more information point your browser at the Global Services Web site.