Avnet Launches Training Support For IBM's i5 Servers

"As one of IBM's most significant server announcements, it's critical for our iSeries partners' success that they have everything they need to capitalize on this new market opportunity," said Fred Cuen, executive vice president and general manager for Avnet Hall-Mark's San Antonio-based IBM division, in a statement.

IBM introduced two iSeries i5 servers last month. The 520 and 570 models are the first of the lineup to use the Power5 processors found in IBM's pSeries Unix servers. The new i5 servers are also the first in the iSeries to support IBM AIX, as well as OS400, Linux and Windows. Partners that want to offer AIX on the i5 servers must have pSeries certification.

Avnet Hall-Mark, Tempe, Ariz., plans to provide demand generation, training and certification for five iSeries focus areas: AIX, Windows integration, WebSphere, Lotus Domino and Linux, Cuen said.

"Being IBM's biggest iSeries channel partner, we will continue to make significant investments on behalf of our partners and IBM," said Cuen in the statement. "Our job is to enable their success, and with this new education rollout, we will do just that."