Bull cuts the cost of distributed infrastructures with new, environmentally-efficient entry-level Escala servers

Paris, April �28,�2009�-

Bull is today launching three entry-level Escala servers, designed to help IT Departments cut the running cost and reduce the energy consumption of distributed infrastructures. The three new Escala models share the same advanced virtualization functions, based on POWER6^TM processor technology which until now has been confined to high-end Escala servers. Easy to administer and featuring high levels of energy efficiency, the new Escala servers further enhance Bull's Bio Data Center^TM offering focused on eco-friendly digital technologies.

Twice the energy efficiency

The design of the new servers has been optimized in order to significantly improve their energy efficiency and make them easier to administer. Compared with the previous generation of servers which they replace, the new Escala machines deliver a 50% improvement in the performance/watt ratio.

"Major companies and public sector bodies are faced with the challenge of not only reducing the cost of their IT infrastructures but also optimizing their IT resources. These new, entry-level Escala servers have been specifically designed with this in mind," commented Olivier Gaumont, Director of Bull's Enterprise Servers business.

A comprehensive range of services to reduce energy consumption and mitigate the risks of implementing complex IT architectures

Along with its partner APC/Schneider Electric, Bull has developed a comprehensive range of energy auditing services, which enable targeted resources to be identified depending on precise user requirements and to optimize their consumption. With the new Escala offering, Bull can also provide server virtualization services - taking advantage of the new functionality offered by the Power6^TM architecture - as well as storage virtualization, enabling IT Departments to significantly improve utilization rates for the IT resources available to them.

In common with all Escala servers, the new models can also be accompanied by services in a number of areas, from service continuity, middleware and infrastructure rationalization to architecture definition, scoping and specification of application environments and Proofs of Concept (POCs).

Designed by Bull in close co-operation with IBM, a range of servers optimized for distributed applications and medium-sized databases

The new Escala models have been optimized to host ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications at remote sites, or medium-sized databases requiring high levels of availability. Featuring a number of advanced functions, the servers can also be deployed to host e-commerce and transaction processing platforms based on Java engines, or for consolidation of smaller servers in order to reduce running costs.

Bull has been actively involved in the design and validation of the new machines as part of a long-standing joint Bull/IBM R&D program.

Key technical characteristics and availability

Escala PL260: 4U-format server
Available with AIX5.3 and AIX6.1
Supports up to 2 POWER6^TM processors cores with a clock speed of up to 4.7GHz and up to 64 GB of memory
Escala PL460: 4U-format server
Available with AIX5.3 and AIX6.1
Supports up to 4 POWER6^TM processors cores with a clock speed of up to 4.7GHz and up to 64 GB of memory
Escala PL860: 4U-format server
Available with AIX5.3 and AIX6.1
Supports up to 8 POWER6^TM processors cores with a clock speed of up to 5.0GHz and up to 256 GB of memory

The new Escala servers will be available from June 2009.

About Bull

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Bull is a leader in secure mission-critical digital systems. The Group is dedicated to developing and implementing solutions where computing power and security serve to optimize its customers' information systems, to support their business.

Bull operates in high added-value markets including computer simulation, Cloud computing and 'computing power plants', outsourcing and security.

Currently Bull employs around 9,000 people across more than 50 countries, with over 700 staff totally focused on R&D. In 2011, Bull recorded revenues of €1.3 billion.

For more information visit: http://www.bull.com
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