PROCESSORS

Enter the On Demand World is the slogan that IBM is using this year to address visitors to CeBIT (March 10-16 in Hanover) in Halls 1, 4 and 9. On a total exhibition space of more than 4,000 square metres, CeBIT visitors will gain insights into on demand solutions in a wide range of industries and product areas. The main IBM booth, Stand 4G2/5D2 in Hall 1, presents future-oriented technologies from IBM research labs, current industry solutions and the latest hardware and software products. In Hall 4 on Stand A04/A12, IBM and a large number of business partners brief small and medium enterprises on solutions that are specially designed to suit their needs, including the IBM Express portfolio. The focus at Stand C52/1 in Hall 9 is on public administration. Here, IBM and partners are presenting on demand solutions for security, e-government, and the electronic health card. Shaping the Future: IBM Research & Development In the Innovation Zone in Hall 1, visitors can see technologies of the future from IBM research and development centers at close quarters and talk with research staff about their work. IBM is showing for the first time a Millipede Project chip prototype—a data medium that uses revolutionary nanotechnology to house 1 Terabit of data on a square inch. That roughly corresponds to putting the contents of 25 DVDs on a surface the size of a postage stamp. The principle on which the chip is based is comparable with the punch card of old, albeit with structural dimensions in the nanometer range and the ability to delete data and rewrite the medium. IBM also presents, in Hall 1 under the main heading POWER Technology Driving Innovation, Blue Gene, currently the world’s fastest supercomputer and features the MareNostrum supercomputer, which is currently the fastest by far in Europe. Blue Gene’s new system design is based on ultradense packaging and a small surface area. The technology used combines processors from the POWER microchip family and the latest cooling and clustering technologies. It thereby ushers in a new phase in supercomputing. High-performance computers for enterprise applications are shrunk to a handy size, making them smaller, less expensive and easier to use. MareNostrum uses commercially available Blade servers and runs under Linux. The European supercomputer is equipped with over 4,500 POWER chips and achieves a computing performance of up to 40 teraflops. Remote access to the computer, which is located at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, will be laid on to show a number of scientific applications live. In the Smart Surveillance System IBM research staffs have devised a new kind of security system that carries out automatic and smart data analysis of video sequences either in real time or from recordings. The system distinguishes between vehicles, people and groups of people, thereby making it possible to search video data for behavior patterns. It recognizes, for example, an item that has been left behind, such as a suitcase in an airport terminal. Other possible uses include traffic monitoring in tunnels and other accident-prone areas and compiling statistics for, say, traffic management systems or shoppers’ habits in malls. In the Innovation Zone IBM also presents its new Design Consulting Services division. IBM is now offering customers the services of its own product design department. Services for the On Demand World Standardization and automation of IT infrastructure as a basis for the on demand enterprise is a key focus at IBM Global Services (IGS). Companies can boost their efficiency substantially by using integrated, flexible IT solutions. At the IP Communication Demo Point IBM demonstrates, for instance, how different communication channels on a common platform can ­enhance the work efficiency especially of employees on the move. This solution combines a Cisco CallManager environment with Unified Messaging, CTI and a Telesnap switchboard, plus on relay GSM integration. The application servers for the distributed architecture were set up at the IBM Center of Competence in the South of France. In the IBM Infrastructure Resource Management (IRM) Accelerator Suite IGS presents a solution that combines ITIL-compliant processes, information, technologies and resources in a package solution for IT infrastructure management. It can be customized in a matter of weeks to meet a company’s requirements, thereby ensuring that IT teams work more efficiently and that IT infrastructure quality is improved. The Stonehenge Linux-based storage and infrastructure solution makes standard services such as data storage on the Net, DNS, DHCP, LDAP or mail available by pushing a button. The system was originally developed by IBM as an in-house solution to reduce administrative expenditure and provides identical data access across all branches. It administers its resources for the most part automatically. Access rights and on demand services can be administered centrally for the entire world. In this way Windows, Unix, Linux and Web workstations can jointly use central data. IBM also features various digital media solutions, including a digital asset management solution to manage media items and solutions for online sales and protection of digital content in cooperation with Real Networks. The pilot version of an Antivirus Service Grid demonstrates how security can function at the enterprise level. It scans desktops regularly throughout the company whenever their users do not need much computing power for their activities. A group of students developed the concept as a part of IBM’s Extreme Blue Initiative. Express for SMEs In Hall 4 the focus is on SMEs’ needs and requirements. In the IBM Express Portfolio IBM offers an extensive range of products for small and medium enterprises that comprises hardware, software, services and financing models. All Express products are easy to install and run. They are easy to integrate and feature a high level of user-friendliness and reliability and transparent pricing that is right for SMEs. At the booth in Hall 4 you can see IBM business partners’ applications at over 60 demo points, arranged by the subject areas CRM, ERP, document management, infrastructure and mobile solutions. Industry Expertise: IBM Industry Solutions In the Industry Expertise Zone at the main IBM booth, IBM industry experts present a large number of customer examples and on demand solutions for different industries. At the Branch of the Future showcase, IBM Financial Services Sector and Sparkassen Informatik take visitors on a time journey to the future of customer-centric banking sales and show what lies behind an ATM self-service transaction. The Bank Workplace of the Future pilot project demonstrates a process-oriented sales solution based on a service-oriented architecture that enhances quality and efficiency. Last not least, the Insurance PC provides a total solution for in-house insurance employees that includes hardware, software and services. IBM Industrial Sector is showing jointly with Panasonic how new products can be launched even more efficiently in international markets in the future. The core of the solution is the WebSphere Product Center, on which personalized information portals for end customers and sales partners are based. For the automotive industry Global Services features Austrian automotive supplier Magna Steyr’s customer solution, a grid-based simulation application for clash analysis. Visitors can also take a look at two solutions for automatic inventory control in the chemical industry. One integrates local, decentral process management systems with merchandise information and enterprise systems. The other is an automated, inventory-oriented delivery process for oil depots and silos. In Hall 9 IBM Public Sector features security and e-government solutions. A further focus is a proposal for an electronic health card to replace the present medical insurance card from 2006. This solution, developed by IBM and various partners, links the IT systems of the practices, hospitals and pharmacies concerned with the central infrastructure via a connector, enabling them to share information via a virtual private network (VPN). In the communications sector IBM is showing at the IP Factory demo point an IP-based solution for integrated voice, media and data services that makes performance-based billing possible. Smart Meter Management for utilities marks a first step toward transforming existing energy networks to make them fit for future network utilization requirements. IBM Wireless Broadband and Sensing Solutions presents in the Fleetboard DispoPilot a solution for more efficient goods distribution. RFID-based applications for logistics and pharmaceuticals and broadband solutions for integrated communications networks, especially in local government and the public sector, round off the range of services on show. The IBM Distribution Sector demonstrates a solution to enhance employee efficiency at Boots plc, the UK’s largest pharmacy chain. The IBM On Demand Workplace optimizes employee workplaces by means of simplified processes, more direct communication and targeted, personalized information, tasks and transactions. It enables retailers to cut the cost of in-house processes, to increase employee efficiency and to manage branches better. This solution is demonstrated on the new IBM Anyplace Kiosk and the IBM Pinehurst device. In addition, a new solution for swift and secure payment at the checkout or at a self checkout with clear fingerprint identification developed by service provider Pay by Touch is on show. The customer registers with Pay by Touch with his fingerprint to set up a so-called electronic wallet. When paying, the customer identifies himself with his fingerprint and triggers predefined payment from a bank account or by customer or credit card. Software Solutions for Totally Integrated Business Processes The IBM Software Group presents in Hall 1 new solutions with the focus on cross-integration of data, business processes and people. With the software on show, a company’s IT infrastructure can be customized end to end for individual business processes. IBM Software thereby provides a basis on which enterprises can respond fast to customer requirements, market opportunities and external risks. IBM WebSphere is showing at its demo points new Business Process Management software such as the WebSphere Business Integration Modeler or the Enterprise Edition of the WebSphere Studio Application Developer. As for service-oriented architectures, IBM is presenting the Websphere Application Server 6 software platform that enables companies to protect their enterprise applications on the Net better from outages by means of autonomic computing capabilities and to set up their infrastructure flexibly. New IBM portal solutions can also be seen at the WebSphere demo points. The DB2 Universal Database from IBM Information Management also uses autonomic computing functions. What is more, CeBIT visitors can see here the IBM Informix IDS, the new high-performance database for OLTP applications. Along with enterprise content management and information integration solutions, IBM features in the DB2 Universal Database Data Warehouse Edition a totally integrated business intelligence platform. IBM Lotus presents Lotus/Domino 7, with new functions such as the use of DB2 for data storage of Notes documents, expanded server administration and an improved Domino designer interface. In addition, IBM Lotus features current workplace solutions. They include new portal-based collaboration software with the aid of which employees, customers and suppliers can work together more efficiency and gain simple access to information and business processes. Along with new IBM Tivoli security software solutions that ensure IT security by access management and maintaining security guidelines, IBM Tivoli is showcasing IBM TotalStorage Open Software family solutions. This is a comprehensive, flexible storage software solution with the aid of which companies can deal right now with the demands of storage management. A further highlight is IBM Tivoli’s application management solutions that help customers to monitor, manage and automate their business-critical applications. IBM Rational shows how integrated software development, seen as a core business process, becomes a key factor in business success and a mainstay of on demand business. Different application areas of the IBM software development platform and multilayered integration of individual processes and tasks are demonstrated by examples of project portfolio management, geographically distributed software development, development of service-oriented architectures, and development of technical software systems. There is a special focus on the new products announced last fall under the code name Atlantic. Simplifying IT Infrastructure Technologies for a flexible, easily managed and optimally utilized IT infrastructure hold pride of place at the IBM Systems & Technology Group’s demo points. IBM Dynamic Infrastructure, for example, facilitates the automatic provision of entire SAP systems on the basis of preconfigured system content. Another highlight is the new IBM Virtualization Engine, a bundle of mainframe-inspired technologies and services that simplify IT infrastructure and enhance capacity utilization. One of these technologies is micropartitioning, by means of which up to ten virtual systems with different operating systems can be run on each chip. Micropartitioning und dynamic logical partitioning are also used in IBM’s POWER5 chip technology, launched in 2004. At CeBIT an entire range of new servers with Power5 microprocessor technology can be seen, including the integrated SME servers IBM eServer i5-520 and i5-570 that can run i5, Linux, Windows and AIX simultaneously and are therefore ideally suited for consolidating different workloads. Also on show is the entire high-performance IBM eServer p5 product range for Unix complete with POWER5 processor, including the current TPC-C Benchmark record-holder p5-590/595, and the IBM eServer OpenPower systems specially developed for Linux. On the cutting edge, IBM is also showing the prototype of an IBM IntelliStation with the new processor. For the zSeries a live demonstration on a z890 mainframe shows how companies can take precautions against a catastrophe. IBM is also demonstrating the benefits of specialized processors, zAAPs, in implementing low-cost Java environments on z/OS. A banking demo installation features a back office implementation on a zSeries server for on demand banking. Latest models in the Intel-based IBM eServer xSeries server range are based on the IBM Xtended Design Architecture that supports EM64T 64-bit technology. A highlight is the new xSeries 366 with an entirely new chipset and a much higher performance than its predecessor. Jointly with Siemens COM, a VoIP solution based on xSeries hardware, the HiPath8000, is also on show. The BladeCenter models JS20 with POWER processors and HS20 with Intel processors and 64-bit expansion are space-saving solutions designed to simplify IT infrastructure. IBM TotalStorage presents the virtualization solutions SAN Volume Controller and SAN File System. They can be used with the TotalStorage Productivity Center to put resources to better use and to manage storage centrally. The IBM TotalStorage DR550 data retention system and an LTO 3584 tape archive are on show as infor­mation lifecycle management solutions. Companies can achieve constant data availability and a secure infrastructure with the latest IBM disk systems DS8000, DS6000 and DS4000. Latest Products from the Think Family IBM’s Personal Computing Division (PCD) presents its latest notebook products in the ThinkPad X, T and R series and the latest ThinkCenter desktops. The latest addition to the family, the IBM ThinkPad T43 high-end notebook with its integrated fingerprint reader, embedded security subsystem and Utimaco SafeGuard Easy encryption software is focused on security. The IBM ThinkPad T43p is suitable for use as a very powerful mobile workstation, especially for demanding CAD applications. Further approaches to mobile computing include a UMTS wireless link in the ultra-portable ThinkPad X40 and a Suse Linux solution on board the entry-level ThinkPad R50e. Highlights among stationary models are the smallest IBM desktop PC, the ThinkCenter S50 Ultra Small Form Factor, and the IBM ThinkCenter M51, which is available in three casings—as a desktop, a small desktop or a tower. All ThinkCenter models can be opened without tools and are easy to service and expand. Clear vision in the office or at conferences is ensured by the IBM ThinkVision L200p display with a 20.1-inch flatscreen, the ultra-portable IBM M400 projector, the low-cost IBM E400 and the C400, a projector that is especially suitable for use in conference rooms. All IBM PC products are equipped with ThinkVantage technologies for simplified PC management. These are applications that perform system functions without the user needing to intervene. IBM Rescue and Recovery Software, for example, can save or restore data swiftly and easily even if the operating system is defective. In Hall 4 IBM’s Personal Computing Division provides information about its ThinkPad Center concept for selected IBM Business Partners who present the entire ThinkPad notebook family in their stores. Integrating SAP Systems: IT-Services and Solutions GmbH IBM subsidiary IT-Services and Solutions GmbH (it’) presents itself both at the main IBM booth and as a partner at the SAP booth. it’ features customized solutions and services to integrate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) on the basis of SAP systems. The industry-specific ERP software SAP easy is suitable for use by companies of all sizes and is implemented at a fixed price. At other demo points, it’ focuses on examples of use of mobile services and network adminisitration. Jointly with Novell it provides information about Suse Linux services and solutions. IBM at CeBIT 2005 Enter the On Demand World is the slogan that IBM is using to present itself at CeBIT 2005 from March 10–16. Its trade fair focus is on on demand solutions from a large number of industries and product areas. The main IBM booth in Hall 1 (Stand 4G2/5D2) features future-oriented technologies from IBM research labs, current industry solutions and the latest hardware and software products. In Hall 4 (Stand A04/A12) IBM provides information about solutions for small and medium enterprises. This is where a large number of IBM Business Partners present their applications for SMEs. IBM presents solutions designed specially for public administration in Hall 9 (Stand C52/1). For further information about IBM at CeBIT 2005, visit http://www.ibm.com/de/cebit/en/