Announcing Target Workloads for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
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Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems, designed for Intel Itanium-based servers, will be optimized for three workloads.
One of the key aspects of the Windows Server vision is to simplify the administration and management of every Windows Server workload to increase operational efficiency and IT effectiveness.
To that end, Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems is designed specifically for database workloads and custom and line-of-business applications. Customers of Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems will receive a superior deployment experience in terms of administration and management for database workloads, and custom and business applications. This workload focus is consistent with the majority of current users of Windows Server on Itanium, and is in line with feedback from participants in the Windows Server "Longhorn" beta 1.
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems will continue to offer customers the highest levels of performance, reliability, and scalability on the Windows platform, and will continue to be the leading alternate platform for RISC-based UNIX servers. Windows Server roles that don't apply to these workloads, for example, fax server, Windows Media Services, Windows SharePoint Services, file and print servers, and others, won't operate on Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems.
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems includes all the necessary foundation technologies to support database applications, business applications, and the ability for customers to design, deploy, and manage custom applications. As with Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems will continue to support client-side functionality for administration, management, and server utilities.
Partner and Analyst Quotations
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Directions on Microsoft
"The support of Windows Server, codename "Longhorn," for both the x64 and Itanium architectures appears to be a rational approach. It allows customers to use the Windows x64 editions to transition most server workloads from 32-bits, while continued support for Itanium allows partners and customers access to a 64-bit Windows platform for the most demanding workloads, such as specialized compute intensive engineering applications, as well as databases and business applications that process high volumes of transactions."
Michael Cherry
Analyst
Directions on Microsoft
Fujitsu
"The combination of Windows Server "Longhorn" and SQL Server 2005 will provide the most cost-effective infrastructure for enterprise line-of-business and custom applications that require the highest levels of reliability and scalability. In strategic collaboration with Microsoft, Fujitsu is committed to meeting customers' most demanding mission-critical system needs with continued improvements in reliability, scalability, and performance. Itanium-based PRIMEQUEST servers represent the combination of technology and expertise from the Fujitsu mainframe background, and deliver a powerful and versatile solution that can deliver long-term value and flexibility."
Akira Yamanaka
Corporate Vice President and President
Server Systems Unit
Fujitsu
Hitachi
"Hitachi supports Microsoft's plans to optimize Windows Server "Longhorn" on Itanium systems for database workloads, and custom and line-of-business applications, while offering broader workload support with Windows Server x64 editions. This approach provides Hitachi the flexibility to work with Microsoft to match software technologies with unique form factors, such as Hitachi's BladeSymphony blade server, so that we can deliver the right solution to customers."
Kiyoshi Kozuka
General Manager
Strategy Planning & Development Office
Information & Telecommunication Systems Group
Hitachi
HP
"Software support for HP Integrity servers now includes more than 5,000 applications spanning mission-critical infrastructure, enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, and business intelligence. Microsoft's long-term support for HP Integrity servers and plans to optimize Windows Server "Longhorn" for Itanium establish the Itanium architecture as the 64-bit platform for enterprise customers who require the highest levels of performance, reliability, and scalability."
Rich Marcello
Sr. Vice President and General Manager
Business Critical Servers
HP
IDC
"Microsoft's plans to continue to focus Windows Server "Longhorn" x64 editions on general purpose, scale-out workloads are perfectly aligned with the IT spending trends we've seen over the past year. We expect that Windows Server "Longhorn" running on Itanium-based systems will be well-suited for large, scale-up deployments and consolidations of database workloads and line-of-business and custom applications. Microsoft's continued commitment to Itanium further cements its place as an alternative to mainframe and RISC/Unix systems."
Matt Eastwood
Program Vice President of Worldwide Server Research
IDC
Insight64
"Microsoft customers have two 64-bit architectures to consider, and the clear sweet spot for Windows Server on Itanium-based systems will continue to be as an alternate to RISC systems running highly-scalable database workloads and custom and business applications. Microsoft's plans to optimize Windows Server "Longhorn" for Itanium for those specific workloads and applications demonstrates strong commitment to 64-bit computing, and provides clear guidance for Windows Server customers and the industry."
Nathan Brookwood
Senior Analyst
Insight64
Intel
"Intel and Microsoft are strongly committed to continue to expand Windows on Itanium for the RISC/UNIX market segment. Intel believes Microsoft's development of specific features for the Longhorn server OS for Itanium in reliability, scalability, and performance strengthen the Windows Itanium solutions in data center migration, database, ERP, BI and line-of-business applications."
Lisa Graff
General Manager
High End Server Product Line
Intel
NEC
"NEC is pleased with Microsoft's continued dedication to both 64-bit architectures for Windows Server "Longhorn" and SQL Server 2005. Recent benchmarks have demonstrated that technology innovations from Microsoft, NEC, and its partners around NEC's Itanium-based servers, such as NX7700i and Express5800/1000 Series, can offer superior business value for IT managers running database and line-of-business applications. We look forward to working with Microsoft to further optimize Windows Server "Longhorn" for our future Itanium-based systems and 64-bit systems."
Yukio Ito
Associate Senior Vice President and Executive General Manager
1st Computers Operations Unit
NEC
Unisys
"Unisys is accelerating the adoption of standards-based solutions and technologies by bringing unprecedented performance and reliability to the Intel-based infrastructure. Microsoft's continued commitment to both the x64 and Itanium architectures with Windows Server "Longhorn" and SQL Server 2005 enables Unisys ES7000 servers to deliver unparalleled price and performance advantages for high performance databases, sophisticated business intelligence deployments, and mission critical line of business applications."
Leo Daiuto
President
Systems and technology
Unisys
