Apple Introduces Xserve G5

Apple today introduced Xserve G5, the most powerful Xserve yet, delivering over 30 gigaflops of processing power per system, about 60 percent more than the PowerPC G4-based Xserve. Xserve G5 features the same revolutionary PowerPC G5, 64-bit processor used in Virginia Tech’s cluster of Power Mac G5s — the world’s third fastest supercomputer. With unparalleled performance and manageability in a 1U rack-mount enclosure, Xserve G5 is the perfect server for today’s UNIX-based applications.

Xserve G5 includes a new system controller with up to 8GB of PC3200 errorcorrecting code (ECC) memory; three hot-plug Serial ATA drive modules thatdeliver up to 750GB of storage; optional internal hardware RAID; dual PCI-Xslots, supporting 133MHz PCI-X cards with over 1GBps of throughput; anddual 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 ProductMarketing. “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 lowas £2,399 (inc VAT), no one can offer better price performance in a 1Urack-mount design”.

Available with either single or dual 2.0GHz PowerPC G5 processors, theXserve G5 architecture is based on an execution core that features massivelyparallel computation for an unprecedented 215 in-flight instructions, fullsymmetric multi-processing, two double precision floating-point units and anoptimised Velocity Engine. Xserve G5 has the industry’s fastest front sideprocessor bus — running at up to 1.0GHz and delivering 8GBps perprocessor.

Building on the engineering feats first introduced in the Power Mac G5,Xserve G5 squeezes the incredible performance of dual PowerPC G5 processorsinto an ultra-thin 1U enclosure. An innovative copper heat sink designeffectively removes heat from the processors while eight high-performancefans provide airflow for cooling the system. The fans are individuallymanaged and monitored by a dedicated fan control processor; if a single fanfails the others speed up to compensate. The 1U enclosure has an array ofover 30 sensors, including eight dedicated to temperature control, thatcontinually 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 acluster node configuration specifically designed for high-performancecomputational clustering that delivers the compute performance of dual G5processors without the cost of additional components, such as a CD-ROMdrive.

Xserve G5 features new capabilities designed to make server setup and remotemanagement easier than ever before. Server Monitor, Apple’s hardware remotemonitoring application, provides both high-level red/yellow/green status onall key subsystems, as well as detailed information on server status. XserveG5 includes an updated Server Monitor that now provides information fromover 30 sensors, including power supply voltages, temperature sensors, fanspeeds and Ethernet and hard drive performance.

Xserve G5 ships with an unlimited client edition of Mac OS X Server version10.3 “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, Windowsand Linux clients.

Apple offers a choice of world-class services and support programs forXserve including 4-hour on-site response, 24x7 technical support, AppleCareService Parts Kits and the AppleCare Professional SupportLine and Toolsprogramme.

Pricing & Availability:

Xserve G5 will be available in February through the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers. Xserve willcome in three standard configurations or can be fully customised to meetspecific customer requirements. The three standard Xserve G5 configurationsinclude:

 

Press Contacts:
Apple UK and Ireland Public Relations
Email: media.uk@apple.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 8218 1440