The PRIMEQUEST server line from Fujitsu is served in three models, with the 520A model targeted to mid-range and the 540A/580A models targeted to high-end deployments. The 520A is served in a 12U rack-mountable form factor, while the other two models ship as independent floor stands (70 inches tall). Each of the servers is based on Intel Itanium architecture, with the latest servers (the "A" models described here and expected to be generally available in May) driven by 9100 series dual core processors. The servers support from 8 (520A) to 32 (580A) such processors (16 to 64 cores), and can run Windows Server (2003/2008) or Linux (RHEL, SLES) operating systems. Differing processors can co-exist in each system.

A key feature of the servers is their support for multiple partitions (from 4 to 16, depending on model), each of which is physically and electrically isolated from the others, and the vendor's System Mirror Mode, which enables failover protection within the systems for crossbar or memory faults. High-availability features of the chassis include hot-swappable system boards (2-8), PCI cards, disks (for boot up), power supplies (which are installed at the top of the cabinet), and fans (additional components are hot-swappable in the high end servers). Internal (crossbar) communication bandwidth is clocked at a bi-directional 19 GB/sec per system board, with total sustained system bandwidth ranging from 42 GB/sec to 170 GB/sec across the server line.

For communication and interfacing with the outside world, up to 128 PCI-X and 64 8x PCIe slots are supported; with I/O configurable separately from CPU and memory. Additionally, Gb Ethernet interfaces are integrated in the units (4 in the 520A; and in the 540A/580A the ports can operate as redundant 8 port switches, or as pass-through ports. 16 pass-throughs are supported in the 540A and 32 are supported in the 580A). The 540A/580A also support up to 4 10 Gb ports.

Other features include an integrated KVM/USB for the partitions; redundant boot drives (up to 32 in the 580A); redundant, SSL-protected, management-only processors (monitor host hardware/software, log errors, initiate repair sequences); and support for 256 GB (520A) to 2 TB (580A) of memory.

Currently available are the 520/540/580 models of the servers; the 520A/540A/580A models are expected to be available in May. In addition to the processor upgrades for each of the models, the 540A/580A models additionally increase front side bus clock frequency from 533 MHz to 667 MHz, and introduce "Dynamic Partitioning" capabilities (RHEL 5.1, Windows Server 2008), allowing the balancing of CPU and memory loads across back-up system boards while the live systems are still running.

Visit the Fujitsu Computer Systems Web site for further information.