In brief: Dell adds multicore technology to single-core dual-socket servers, workstations

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• Dell last week announced it has added multicore technology to its single-core dual-socket servers and workstations. Dell says the new systems improve performance by a maximum of 53% compared with the single-core, dual-socket machines they supersede. Multicore computing is the placing together of two or more CPUs onto a single piece of silicon as a way to cut costs and lessen heat. Because processor-intensive tasks can be handled separately, multicore chips also can help improve the performance of multithreaded applications. Dell's PowerEdge 1850, 2800 and 2850 servers, its PowerEdge 1855 blade server, and its Precision 470 and 670 workstations expect to ship later this month with dual-core Intel Xeon chips instead of single-core processors, says Neil Hand, vice president of worldwide marketing in Dell's Products Group. The servers will ship with Windows Server 2003 and Red Hat's Enterprise Linux. Prices for the PowerEdge 1850 server and the 1855 blade start at $2,450; the PowerEdge 2800 starts at $2,550 and the PowerEdge 2850 at $2,750. The Precision workstations expect to ship with XP Professional operating system and Red Hat's Enterprise Linux. The Precision 470 costs from $2,480, while the Precision 670 is priced from $2,780.
• Mendocino Software, a start-up, this week announced its first product for protecting applications, databases and file systems running on large networks. RecoveryONE can recover applications and data to any previous point in time or any business process, the company says. The software, which runs on a Windows server, enables event-driven recovery. RecoveryONE has a policy engine that allows IT to establish events and select optimal recovery points for any failure. RecoveryONE runs on an out-of-band server appliance connected to the Fibre Channel storage-area network. It supports a variety of storage systems. RecoveryOne will be sold through EMC and IBM.

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