IBM Active PCI Technology to Become Standard in Reliance, Hewlett Packard and Dell Products
SOMERS, N.Y. (October 28, 1999) – IBM today announced that Dell Computer, Hewlett Packard and Reliance have licensed the company’s “Active PCI” technology, software that allows users to add certain components to Windows®-based servers while the machines remain running.
Active PCI has been available on IBM’s Netfinity® line of servers for more than a year. It was developed as part of the company’s “OnForever” initiative to reduce server downtime in Intel® processor-based machines. According to the Standish Group, server downtime can cost an average of $10,000 per minute for mission critical applications.(1)
“Today the industry is coming together on a technology standard that can dramatically improve the reliability and availability of Intel processor-based servers,” said Dr. Tom Bradicich, director of architecture and technology, IBM Netfinity. “Unifying upon the Active PCI implementation for Hot Plug PCI gives the industry a focal point in which to invest, resulting in more powerful and robust servers and peripherals for all our customers.”
The technology allows a server to be expanded or upgraded in real-time, avoiding inconvenient system outages where a server may be inaccessible to its users. Components that utilize PCI adapter slots such as RAID adapters or network cards can take advantage of the Active PCI technology. The Active PCI technology is designed to work with Windows NT® and Windows 2000.
“HP’s support of the Active PCI technology continues our commitment to incorporate industry-standards into our HP NetServer systems,” said Barbara Braun, R&D Lab Manager for HP’s Network Server Division. “By setting a single PCI industry standard, Active PCI provides a consistent means for adding and replacing PCI cards online. It also represents a clear refinement of a key high-availability feature for operating environments.”
“The adoption of Active PCI technology offers developers the opportunity to build — using industry standard components — computer systems and peripherals that never need to be shut down for maintenance or expansion,” said David Pulling, vice president of marketing, Reliance Computer Corporation. “Reliance is committed to providing OEMs the most advanced microprocessor ServerSet(TM) technology including support for this new high availability PCI standard.”
Source: IBM