In-Depth

Inside IBM

• 06/01/2000

IBM has announced a $1 billion commitment to data management and B2B transactions, and introduced DB2 Universal Database Version 7.

The latest version of DB2 Universal Database helps dotcoms and large corporations conducting business-to-business (B2B) on the Web to gain insight about their customers, slash application deployment time and perform high-speed Internet searches.

IBM also introduced a new pricing structure, allowing application service providers (ASPs) to purchase DB2 Universal Database at a minimal investment. Under terms of the new program, IBM will receive a percentage of the revenue ASPs receive from their customers once the solution is implemented, based on a "per subscriber" or "per transaction" model. Also available are ASP Prime and Hosting Advantage programs, designed to support ASPs using IBM software and help ISVs certify and deploy their applications in the ASP business model.

DB2 Universal Database Version 7 is available on UNIX, Linux and Windows platforms.

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MQSeries Integrator Version 2 features a visual tool for non-programmers to create business rules and transformations, without writing complex code. Version 2 also features new Extensible Markup Language (XML) support, making it possible for companies to automatically transform messages from existing applications into useable data for XML-based applications. The reverse is also true, MQSeries Integrator Version 2 can transform XML-formatted messages into useable data for existing applications.

MQSeries Integrator Version 2 will provide the integration capabilities for IBM’s recently announced WebSphere B2B Integrator software, which helps businesses connect to customers, suppliers, business partners and e-marketplaces.

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IBM is providing a supercomputer that uses the Linux operating system, allowing researchers and developers access to computational power they previously could not afford.

The National Computational Science Alliance, comprised of 50 academic, government and research partners, will use IBM computers as a part of its effort to create a new, highly sophisticated computer network for research.

The system, called Los Lobos, is a "supercluster" of servers, and consists of 256 IBM Netfinity PC servers, which are linked together using special clustering software and high-speed networking hardware, acting as one to process at a speed of 375 gigaflops, or 375 billion operations per second. That speed would place Los Lobos at number 24 on the world’s current list of the top 500 fastest supercomputers.

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IBM announced a $400 million initiative with new products, services, global and regional testing facilities, and a significant expansion of its sales force to provide SAN solutions based on open industry standards.

With its SAN initiative, IBM plans to establish more than 50 SAN Solution Centers with IBM Business Partners; expand their storage solutions sales force with more than 1,000 additional sales specialists; and establish SAN and Storage Services consulting practice by IBM Global Services.

IBM will offer enhanced, industry-standard, fibre channel-based routers, gateways, switches and managed hubs that enhance SAN connectivity in an enterprise. In addition, IBM Magstar tape products can now connect in a SAN using the IBM SAN Data Gateway, allowing them support the sharing of tape drives within a SAN.

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IBM and Qwest Communications International have created a multi-year initiative to deliver next generation e-business services and applications through the creation and deployment of new Qwest CyberCenters, the company’s Internet data centers. More than $5 billion in revenues is expected from the agreement and will be split almost equally between the two companies.

Qwest has selected IBM Global Services to build and provide operational support for 28 new CyberCenters over the next three years. The first four centers, which are expected to be operational later this year, will be located in Dallas; Philadelphia; Sterling, Va.; and the San Jose, Calif. area. By the end of 2000, Qwest plans to have 14 U.S. CyberCenters in operation.

IBM plans to enhance the services it offers to its Web-hosting customers in existing IBM Internet data centers by adding connections to Qwest’s nationwide network.

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IBM alphaWorks has posted the IBM 4758 PCI Cryptographic Coprocessor Custom Software Developer’s Toolkit. This free downloadable toolkit, developed by IBMResearch, is an NT-based integrated environment, intended to assist in the development of applications that require high levels of assurance and security. The toolkit enables development of IBM 4758-based solutions (residing within the IBM 4758’s secure boundary), as well as their host-based counterparts. The IBM 4758, tamper-sensing and responding, programmable, secure coprocessor features a comprehensive, internal, realtime operating system with open cryptographic APIs available for custom application development.

The toolkit may be used remotely to aid in the development of card-based applications via the toolkit’s source-level debugger and the 4758’s integrated serial port. This allows for the development of applications for host platforms other than Windows NT. To encourage the development of e-commerce applications on Linux, IBM alphaWorks has made an early version of the 4758 open source device driver for Linux available on developerWorks.