Intel Set to Launch Itanium

Intel will launch its long-awaited Itanium processor on May 29, and that same day a number of major-league vendors will announce servers and workstations using the chip, according to various industry sources.

Intel's latest processor will be the company's first foray into 64-bit systems and could help the vendor compete in the high-end server market dominated by Sun Microsystems and IBM, say analysts. While numerous delays have hindered Intel's launch of the chip, several system vendors confirm they'll quickly follow Intel's announcement with servers and workstations based on the chip. The chip won't find its way into desktops for quite some time.

Intel executives would not confirm the May 29 launch, saying only that myriad vendors would bring out both servers and workstations in the next several weeks. During that time frame, vendors will release Itanium-based product running operating systems such as Microsoft's Windows 2000, Hewlett-Packard's HPUX, IBM's AIX 5L, and one from Novell, says an Intel spokesperson.

Itanium Plus Linux

In addition, a number of Itanium systems running Linux will also be announced after Intel's launch, meeting analysts' expectations that the open-source OS would be one of the lead platforms for the new processor.

Sources close to Silicon Graphics confirmed that that company will announce an Itanium workstation with Linux on May 29. The company then plans to follow shortly thereafter with servers using the Itanium chip and possibly several flavors of Linux. The workstation appearing at the initial launch is expected to run a version of Linux developed by TurboLinux.

Dell Computer has also said it will come to market with PowerEdge servers and Precision workstations running on the Itanium chip. However, Dell executives would not confirm a launch date or availability of the new products, saying only that it will be one of the first to announce a product once Intel gives the word.

Experts also expect IBM, Compaq, and HP to launch a variety of workstations and servers close to the announcement date.

Challenging Sun, IBM

Sun and IBM have led the 64-bit market, coupling their RISC chip technology with highly stable operating systems. This combination has helped the vendors attract large corporate customers looking for powerful hardware.

While there has been much anticipation from the industry for Intel's high-powered chip, many analysts expect some time to pass before Intel makes significant inroads into the business. In fact, some suggest that it won't be until Intel's second generation 64-bit processor (code-named McKinley) that the company will be able to compete on equal ground with IBM and Sun in the high-end market.

Analysts look for early adopters to buy smaller systems running Itanium first, putting the machines through trials and then moving toward complete, higher-end systems later on.