By Katie Makal, January 6, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs today introduced Xserve G5, which will deliver over 30 gigaflops of processing power per server system, about 60 percent more than the PowerPC G4-based Xserve. Xserve G5 will be available in February. Xserve G5 features the same PowerPC G5, 64-bit processor used in Virginia Tech's cluster of Power Mac G5s, the world's third fastest supercomputer.
The companion to Xserve, Xserve RAID is a self-contained storage solution that holds up to 14 hot-swappable Apple Drive Modules -- 3.5 terabytes of data -- in a rack-optimized storage enclosure.
Xserve G5 includes a new system controller with up to 8GB of PC3200 error correcting code (ECC) memory; three hot-plug Serial ATA drive modules that deliver up to 750GB of storage; optional internal hardware RAID; dual PCI-X slots, supporting 133 MHz PCI-X cards with over 1 GBps of throughput; and dual on-board Gigabit Ethernet for high-performance networking.
"Xserve G5 delivers just what our customers have been asking for," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With dual G5 processing power and up to 8GB of ECC memory, Xserve G5 is affordable, easy to manage and easy to cluster. Starting as low as $2,999, no one can offer better price performance in a 1U rack-mount design."
Available with either single or dual 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processors, the Xserve G5 architecture is based on an execution core that features massively parallel computation for 215 in-flight instructions, full symmetric multi-processing, two double precision floating-point units and an optimized Velocity Engine. Xserve G5's front side processor bus runs at up to 1.0 GHz and delivers 8 GBps per processor.
Xserve G5 squeezes the performance of dual PowerPC G5 processors into an ultra-thin 1U enclosure. An innovative copper heat sink design effectively removes heat from the processors while eight high-performance fans provide airflow for cooling the system. The fans are individually managed and monitored by a dedicated fan control processor; if a single fan fails, the others speed up to compensate
. The 1U enclosure has an array of over 30 sensors, including eight dedicated to temperature control, that continually monitor all critical system functions throughout the server.
Xserve G5 is the ideal server solution for cross-platform file and print, workgroup management, video streaming, database applications, high-performance computing, and Web and mail serving. Apple also offers a cluster node configuration specifically designed for high-performance computational clustering that delivers the compute performance of dual G5 processors without the cost of additional components, such as a CD-ROM drive.
Xserve G5 features new capabilities designed to make server setup and remote management easier than ever before. Server Monitor, Apple's hardware remote monitoring application, provides both high-level red/yellow/green status on all key subsystems, as well as detailed information on server status. Xserve G5 includes an updated Server Monitor that now provides information from over 30 sensors, including power supply voltages, temperature sensors, fan speeds and Ethernet and hard drive performance.
Xserve G5 ships with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Server version 10.3 "Panther" software pre-installed. Panther Server integrates leading open source and open standards software with easy-to-use management tools that make it easy to deploy popular open source solutions for Mac, Windows and Linux clients.
Apple offers a choice of services and support programs for Xserve including four-hour on-site response, 24x7 technical support, AppleCare Service Parts Kits and the AppleCare Professional SupportLine and Tools program.
Xserve G5 will be available in February. Xserve will come in three standard configurations or can be fully customized to meet specific customer requirements.
- A single 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processor with 512MB of PC3200 ECC RAM, a single 80GB Apple Drive Module with expandability for up to 750GB, dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0, and an unlimited client license of Mac OS X Server, for $2,999.
- Dual 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processors with 1GB of PC3200 ECC RAM, a single 80GB Apple Drive Module with expandability for up to 750GB, dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0, and an unlimited client license of Mac OS X Server, for $3,999.
- Cluster-optimized dual 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processors with 512MB of PC3200 ECC RAM, a single 80GB Apple Drive Module, dual Gigabit Ethernet on-board, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0, and a 10-client license of Mac OS X Server for a suggested retail price that starts at $2,999 per cluster node.
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