IBM announced the System z10 mainframe that will help clients create a new enterprise data center with increased efficiency. z10 will significantly improve the performance of data centers by reducing power consumption, cooling costs, and floor space requirements. It also offers unmatched levels of security and automates the management and tracking of IT resources to respond to ever-changing business conditions.

The z10’s capacity is equivalent to 1,500 servers based on the popular x86 design, IBM says, though it has 85% lower energy costs and takes up 85% less space than the batch of x86 servers. IBM also says that the system allows the consolidation of x86 software license at up to a 30:1 ratio.

The new machines also boast more processing horsepower, using 64 quad-core processors compared to the 54 processors used in its predecessor, the z9. The z10 also supports a broad range of workloads. In addition to Linux, XML, Java, WebSphere and increased workloads from Service Oriented Architecture implementations, IBM is working with Sun Microsystems and Sine Nomine Associates to pilot the Open Solaris operating system on System z, demonstrating the openness and flexibility of the mainframe.

Here are some of z10’s great features:

• Single z10 equal to nearly 1,500 x86 servers
• Up to 85% less energy costs
• Up to 85% smaller footprint
• Consolidates x86 software licenses at up to a 30-to-1 ratio.
• Mainframe goes Quad-Core
• z10 brings discipline to data center chaos:
• Just-in-time capacity to meet ever-changing business conditions
• Automated management of system performance to favor high-value transactions

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