Apple(R) today upgraded its Xserve(TM) 1U rack servers to deliver
incredible price performance through dual 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, up to
2GB of 333 MHz Double Data Rate (DDR) memory and up to 720GB of hot-plug
storage, with configurations starting at just $2,799 (US). Building on the
success of its predecessor, the new Xserve delivers even greater performance at
a more affordable price and is designed to be the perfect complement to Apple's
new Xserve RAID storage system.
"Just six months after we shipped the first Xserve, we're now
offering more power and more storage at an even lower price," said Philip
Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.
"Xserve is already in use at over 100 Fortune 500 companies and hundreds
of universities and schools across the country, and we're making it even better
based on their feedback."
"Apple did their homework about thin servers, and they got it
right," said Jean S. Bozman, research vice president with IDC's Worldwide
Server Group. "Xserve has all the ease of use that Mac customers expect,
plus it has the familiarity and power of UNIX that draws the respect of network
administrators who haven't looked to Apple in years. IDC has already noticed an
uptick in Apple's server shipments since the Xserve first shipped in July,
2002."
"We were originally looking at a Linux cluster but when Apple
announced Xserve, with its promise of great management tools on a UNIX
foundation at an affordable price, the decision became easy," said Michael
Giddings, assistant professor, Departments of Microbiology/Immunology and
Biomedical Engineering, UNC-Chapel Hill. "Xserve offers significant
processing power and ease of use without the management challenges of Linux or
the high price of Sun."
Now equipped with dual 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, 2MB of dedicated
L3 cache memory per processor, and up to 2GB of 333 MHz DDR memory, the new
Xserve packs phenomenal computational power and a rich feature set into an
affordable 1U rack-optimized enclosure. Xserve enhances the power of its
processors with a 167 MHz system bus and up to 2GB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM for
running demanding applications and working with huge files. Two full-length
64-bit, 66 MHz PCI slots provide up to 533 MB/s throughput and allow easy
expansion to external SCSI and Fibre Channel devices including virtually
unlimited storage with Apple's new Xserve RAID system. One half-length PCI/AGP
slot provides additional PCI expansion or connectivity to a high-performance
graphics card. Dual independent Gigabit Ethernet ports and FireWire(R) 800
interfaces offer high-performance connectivity.
Xserve comes with the unlimited client edition of Apple's Mac(R) OS X
Server software with built-in file and printer sharing and a robust new
journaled file system that enhances availability by providing rapid file system
recovery following an unplanned shutdown. Xserve with Mac OS X Server features
a number of powerful remote management and monitoring tools that allow
administrators to easily set up and manage all key Mac OS X Server network
services remotely. Xserve is the ideal server solution for file and print,
workgroup management, video streaming, database applications, computational
clustering and web and mail serving. When combined with Apple's professional
video and film editing software Final Cut Pro(R), Xserve becomes the ultimate
video workstation with flexible storage that can scale as digital media files
grow.
Third party developer momentum for Mac OS X Server continues to build
with recently announced solutions including Macromedia's JRUN J2EE Application
Server and their popular ColdFusion scripting tool; Stalker Communicate Pro's
Mail Server; network, file and printer sharing tools from Helios; and a
clustered failover solution from HA Tech Solutions.
Xserve connects easily to the newly introduced Xserve RAID storage
system using the dual channel 2Gb Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card sold separately
at a industry breakthrough price of $499 (US) (SRP). This high-speed industry
standard storage interface offers dedicated bandwidth with a throughput of up
to 400MB/s. Apple's PCI card comes with two high-speed 2.9-meter copper cables
and accepts SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) copper or optical transceivers
for use with fiber-optic cables.
Apple offers a choice of world-class services and support programs for
Xserve including 4-hour on-site response, 24x7 technical support, AppleCare(R)
Service Parts Kits and the AppleCare Professional SupportLine and Tools
program.
Pricing & Availability
The new Xserve will be available in March through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com/)
and through Apple Authorized Resellers. Xserve comes in two standard
configurations or can be fully customized to meet specific customer
requirements. Build-to-order options can include memory, storage, optical
drives, graphics cards and SCSI and Fibre Channel cards.
The two standard configurations are:
single 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256MB DDR 333 RAM, 60GB
ATA/133 Apple Drive Module, dual Gigabit Ethernet, CD-ROM and
Mac OS X Server with unlimited clients for an estimated retail price
of $2,799 (US); and
dual 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, 512MB DDR 333 RAM, 60GB ATA/133Apple Drive Module, dual Gigabit Ethernet, CD-ROM and Mac OS X
Server with unlimited clients for an estimated retail price of
$3,799 (US).
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the
Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to
students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world
through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, Xserve, FireWire,
Final Cut Pro, AppleCare and Apple Store are trademarks of Apple. Other company
and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Cameron Craig of Apple, +1-408-974-6281, or cam@apple.com; or
Reena Spektor of Edelman Worldwide, +1-650-429-2742, or
reena.spektor@edelman.com, for Apple
Web
site: http://www.apple.com/ 
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