IBM Brings Mainframe to the Masses
The LinuxOne 4 Express supports hybrid cloud and AI for extensive use by SMEs
Mainframe computers are often considered as a prerequisite for large enterprises, a perception that IBM has sought to change with the introduction of its LinuxONE 4 and IBM z16 mainframe solutions targeting the cost-conscious small and medium enterprises (SME) markets. What’s more, the solution supports AI strategies and hybrid cloud, thus making it more attractive.
Of course, it goes without saying that IBM’s new computers continue the legacy of offering strong security, resilience and cost savings. The LinuxOne 4 Express comes with 15 Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL cores) functionality and is powered by the IBM Telum processor that uses 7nm technology and operates at 4.6GHz frequency with 864 GB of memory.
The rack-mounted model allows companies to be flexible in adding preferred storage options while the processor offers on-chip AI acceleration that enhances performance for in-traction inference and could enhance capabilities around fraud detection, medical imaging and insurance claims processing.
High-end servers for small and medium business
“IBM LinuxONE 4 Express is a chance for startups and small to medium-sized businesses to build an intentional hybrid cloud strategy from the ground up. IBM brings the power of hybrid cloud and AI in the latest LinuxONE 4 system to a simple, easy to use format that fits in many data centers,” said Tina Tarquinio, VP, Product Management, IBM Z and LinuxONE.
“And as their businesses grow with the changing shifts in the market, LinuxONE 4 Express can scale to meet growing workload and performance requirements, in addition to offering AI inferencing co-located with mission-critical data for growing AI use cases,” Tarquinio said in a statement published by IMB on its website.
Given the focus on security, IBM has ensured that it remains the foundation around which the LinuxOne 4 Express is being offered. The IBM Secure Execution for Linux capability protects workload data within virtual machine guests from unauthorized access or modification. This could be of vital importance to the small and medium enterprises, given their data vulnerability.
Overall, one can say that the new offering is an economical solution for small and medium companies who were yearning to access high-end server technology. The IBM LinuxONE 4 Express is designed to extend the capabilities of the LinuxONE 4 and the IBM z16 mainframes that were first announced in 2023 to SME.
