Intel Strives For The Enterprise

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip maker told attendees at the Intel Developer Forum that it will bring out additional iterations of its multiprocessor- and dual-processor-capable server chips beginning this year.

Beyond new products, though, the company is embarking on an effort to emphasize combined technologies in different platforms, a strategy it adopted with its Centrino mobile platform.

Intel executives told attendees that the company will:

Roll out Intel Active Management Technology, which the company will begin integrating at the platform level as soon as next year. The technology will permit management data to be stored on-platform and permit third-party management software to track assets, reboot, and fix desktops remotely and "Out of Band." ISVs including Altiris, BMC Software, Check Point Software Technologies, Computer Associates International and LANDesk all said they would release versions of their software supporting the technology.

By next year, release a new version of Xeon, code-named Irwindale, which will run at 3.8GHz with a 3-Mbyte cache.

Begin introducing virtualization throughout its enterprise processor lineup, starting with the dual-core Montecito version of Itanium 2 and introduction of its Silvervale virtualization technology next year.

Roll out a lower-cost version of its multiprocessor Xeon, code-named Cranford, which will begin shipping next year followed by a dual-core version of Xeon, code-named Tulsa.

Introduce low-voltage versions of its Itanium platforms as early as next year, with its dual-processor chip, code-named Montvale, and a new processor, code-named Millington.

Unveil plans for two new common platform architecture chips: Tukwila in the Itanium 2 line and Whitefield in the Xeon line in the 2006-or-beyond time frame.

Much of Intel's effort at the high end will take place under a new moniker, the Service Oriented Enterprise (SOE), which company executives describe as a next generation of Web services.

"The way we view SOE is a new generation for computer platforms," said Deborah Conrad, vice president of sales and marketing at Intel and director of its Solutions Market Group. "There will be more and more initiatives coming from Intel around SOE, and we hope you'll participate," Conrad told the group of 5,000 attendees, consisting mostly of engineers and developers.

Abhi Talwalkar, vice president and general manager of Intel's Enterprise Platforms Group, downplayed suggestions that the company has been trailing rival Advanced Micro Devices in key areas since AMD's introduction of 64-bit Opteron processors last year. Talwalkar noted that Intel still maintains about an 87 percent share of the market for server processors, compared with about 3.5 percent for AMD. He also suggested the company, while not meeting some internal expectations, was nonetheless having a successful year in the enterprise.

"From a business standpoint, revenue standpoint, it's been a great year," Talwalkar said. "We have fantastic momentum."