GOVERNMENT

Voltaire today announced that IBM will now add Voltaire InfiniBand switches as one of the interconnect solutions offered for IBM eServer 1350 Linux clusters. Voltaire InfiniBand interconnect solutions are widely used in the data center to improve the performance of clustered database and data-intensive applications, as well as scientific and engineering applications in the commercial HPC space. Independent benchmark tests show InfiniBand delivers from 30% to as much as 120% performance improvement to computer-aided engineering applications when compared to Ethernet as the interconnect. "We are pleased to be working with leading InfiniBand solution providers like Voltaire to provide state-of-the-art InfiniBand interconnect solutions to our mutual customers," said Bob Lenard, Worldwide Brand Executive, Workstations and IBM eServer xSeries Linux Clusters. "Voltaire interconnect solutions are a complement to our Linux cluster offerings, helping us address a broad range of customer needs -- from traditional high performance computing (HPC) environments to large enterprises with demanding line-of-business applications." "The addition of Voltaire interconnect solutions to IBM's cluster configurations means that customers now have the assurance that they will get the best efficiency, performance and utilization from their clustered systems," said Ronnie Kenneth, chairman and CEO, Voltaire. The combination of IBM and Voltaire technology allows us to provide customers high-performance solutions that help them compete and grow in their respective markets." Voltaire offers a complete family of InfiniBand interconnect solutions, including the Voltaire ISR 9288, the industry's most scalable, multiprotocol switch for building high-performance clusters and grids ranging from tens to thousands of nodes. DB2 and Tivoli The new OEM agreement extends the existing relationship between IBM and Voltaire. IBM also offers Voltaire solutions as part of the IBM DB2 ICE offering, which allows enterprise customers to build scalable, high-performance data-management infrastructures in a clustered Linux environment. Voltaire InfiniBand interconnect has been integrated with IBM Tivoli Intelligent Orchestrator. IBM and Voltaire are currently working together to also develop robust integration between Tivoli Intelligent Orchestrator and VoltaireVision Grid Interconnect Management Software, which is embedded in Voltaire InfiniBand Switch Routers. The combined solution is expected to provide clients all the tools they need to control and monitor grid elements such as servers, network and storage resources. Voltaire solutions also have successfully completed testing with the IBM TotalStorage Proven Program. Customers Experience Performance Boost Joint customers have already benefited from Voltaire's work with IBM. Whirlpool Corporation, a leading manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, is using Voltaire InfiniBand interconnect solutions to power a cluster of IBM servers running LSDyna. Whirlpool uses the cluster to conduct structural analysis on new product designs for home appliances. "LS-DYNA performs and scales very well on InfiniBand clusters," said John O. Hallquist, President, LSTC, the maker of LS-DYNA software. "The combination of Voltaire InfiniBand switching and IBM technology gives LS-DYNA demonstrable performance improvements that can streamline design processes and time-to-market for new product introductions."