HP goes back to Alpha

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 21 Jan 2003 at 12:16

The latest incarnation of Alpha processor technology has emerged from HP. Its AlphaServer systems from are based on a new EV7 Alpha processor.

As well as the GS1280 high-end enterprise server, HP's AlphaServer family includes the ES80 departmental server and the ES47 workgroup systems.

Alpha processor technology came to HP with the acquisition of Compaq (who in turn acquired Alpha workstation technology from Digital).

Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS are available on all the new systems and Linux is also available on the AlphaServer ES47 and ES80 systems.

The GS1280 systems are available with eight and 16 (1.15GHz) Alpha processors. Systems with 32 processors are expected to be available by the summer with 64-processor configurations by the end of the year. The ES80 departmental systems, with up to eight 1Ghz Alphas, should start shipping in March. The Alpha Server ES47 is available now, in two and four 1Ghz processor configurations.

You can find more info on the new AlphaServer systems on the HP Web site.

While it is Alpha today, HP is preparing the way for Itanium processor-based servers. Reportedly, this will be the last in the Alpha line as HP harmonises its server offerings around Intel's Itanium processor.

'Early response from customers and ISV partners to these new systems has been enthusiastic,' said Scott Stallard, VP of HP Business Critical Systems. 'As part of our customers' adaptive infrastructure, we believe these systems are critical in meeting their needs for the next two to four years. We are providing them with the foundation for a long-term future with HP by offering immediate benefit today and helping them prepare to evolve to Itanium processor-based HP servers.'

However, an enhanced version of EV7 technology - EV79 Alpha processors - is still planned for introduction in 2004.

HP has announced the Alpha RetainTrust programme to reassure customers over a smooth longer-term evolution to the Itanium architecture-based HP servers.