Big Blue targets Internet servers

A barrage of server strategies and products is intended to win extramarket share for the vendor.

IBM made a raft of server product and compatibility announcements at last week's Networks 96 show, including a move to increase its share of the Internet server market.

Big Blue said it has cut its PC server prices by up to 24 per cent, bundled Lotus Notes free with its expanded PC server range, improved its PC server compatibility and launched PC server Internet solutions based on Windows NT as well as Sunsoft Solaris operating systems.

The NT and Solaris PC server Internet solutions will ship in August, priced from u6,453. IBM already offers a Novell Netware solution. The packs include a PC server 320, network OS, a three-year parts and labour warranty, and Web software.

The manufacturer has upgraded its PC server range by adding Ultra Scsi technology and support for 200MHz Pentium processors to its 320 and 520 models. The price cuts on the 300 server lines are six per cent on Pentium 100MHz products and nine per cent on 133MHz Pentium versions, while the 700 server models are 11 per cent cheaper for 166MHz machines and 24 per cent cheaper for versions using the 133MHz chip.

IBM has also joined every other server manufacturer in claiming that its newly launched Pentium Pro PC server 704 is the first to use Intel's Pro chip.

The Internet server market is attractive to IBM, and Big Blue hopes that its Internet solutions and free Lotus Notes bundles will win it business in the Web provision market. Paul McNulty, director of marketing at IBM EMEA, said: 'This bundle will help to accelerate adoption of Notes as an enterprise-wide solution for our customers running IBM PC servers.'

He confirmed that Notes Release 4.1 Server will be shipped free with all IBM's PC server hardware.

3Com, Intel, IBM, Madge Networks, Mylex/Buslogic, Olicom and SMC have all signed a compatibility agreement to ensure the companies' kit works together - particularly to ensure that network cards run on servers without any problems.