Kind of off topic, but worth noting....
Shaw cable builds a data center...
Message 15135067
``Shaw is committed to providing high-speed Internet access to customers with a level of service we hope exceeds their expectations,'' says Peter Bissonnette, President of Shaw Cablesystems. ``Our new data centre will provide our customers with an amazing experience when using email, web and other Internet applications.''
The network has been designed to improve Shaw's ability and capacity to deliver and store a greater volume of email and services than its customers currently receive. More than 60 terabytes of storage including Sun StorEdge T3 arrays will provide the network with linear scalability of performance, capacity and availability.
Shaw's network infrastructure will be powered by Sun Enterprise[TM] and carrier-grade Netra[TM] servers running the robust Solaris[TM] Operating Environment. Sun's highly available, reliable and scalable servers will provide email, news, web hosting, web traffic services, as well as serve static and dynamic IP addresses.
During the past nine months, Shaw personnel have worked closely with Sun Microsystems and Sun Professional Services to plan, architect and implement Shaw's new data centre network infrastructure.
``Sun is pleased to work with Shaw, and provide Internet computing and professional services for Shaw's network data centre facility,'' commented Everett Anstey, President, Chairman and CEO of Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc. ``Shaw's residential and high-speed Internet customers will have access to a superior level of performance, reliability and security. When completed, Shaw's new data centre facility will demonstrate Sun's ability to collaborate with leading edge service providers like Shaw to enable scalable and secure business and consumer Internet services.''
Sun Enterprise Services will provide maintenance and support of the Sun hardware, software and storage systems.
Shaw has recently announced an additional $200 million to be spent on the Shaw network and data centre as a commiTMent to provide customers a high performance, reliable and secure Internet network.
Data center for satellite radio...
IBM builds storage network for satellite-radio company
By Bloomberg News
January 4, 2001, 11:05 a.m. PT
ARMONK, N.Y.--IBM said it has built the broadcast industry's largest digital storage network, for satellite-radio provider XM Satellite Radio.
Terms weren't disclosed. The storage-area network, or SAN, will hold 22 terabytes of data, to store and deliver digital radio programs, IBM spokeswoman Jeanne Orfinik said. That's enough to hold more than 2 million music compact discs, or the equivalent of more than twice the printed material in the Library of Congress, she said.
But this is the one that bears watching and changes the existing constellation.....
Monday January 8, 8:21 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Broadcom to Acquire ServerWorks, A Leading Supplier of High-Performance SystemI/O Solutions for Server and Storage Platforms, Network Appliances and Workstations
IRVINE and SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2001--
Direct Access to the CPU and Memory Subsystem Bandwidth Will
Enable Broadcom to Deliver Connectivity Solutions That
Significantly Improve Internet and Intranet Response
Time for Every User Worldwide
Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq:BRCM - news), the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling broadband communications, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ServerWorks Corp., the world's leading independent supplier of high-performance system input/output (I/O) integrated circuits for servers. ServerWorks' SystemI/O(TM) silicon solutions act as the essential conduits for delivering high-bandwidth data in and out of servers, and coordinating all I/O transactions within the server platform including between external I/O, the main system memory and the CPUs.
The merger transaction has a value of about $957 million. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Broadcom's diluted earnings per share to the extent of approximately $.02 to $.03 per share per quarter throughout 2001 on a pro forma reporting basis.
ServerWorks has design wins with almost every leading manufacturer of Intel-architecture (IA)-based servers worldwide. These server platforms are used in the markets for web servers, data center servers, network attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SANs), and high performance workstations.
ServerWorks has successfully delivered four generations of System I/O solutions for IA-based server platforms and has shipped more than 10 million devices since inception. Its products have been adopted by most of the leading server, storage and workstation manufacturers, including CacheFlow, Cisco Systems, Compaq, Dell, DigitalScape, EMC, Fujitsu, HP, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Maxtor, NEC, Network Appliance, Nortel Networks, Quantum Snap, Siemens, SGI, Stratus and VA Linux.
The addition of ServerWorks' product portfolio and system expertise will enable Broadcom to deploy wire-speed 10 Gigabit per second (Gbps) communications topologies such as InfiniBand, Ethernet and Fibre Channel into server and storage platforms, and expand Broadcom's participation in these markets. 10Gbps is anticipated to be the speed at which local area, wide area and storage area networks converge.
``ServerWorks' impressive customer base, coupled with its aggressive technology roadmap and proven track record, will enable Broadcom to enhance the entire Internet and Intranet infrastructure,'' said Dr. Henry T. Nicholas III, President and CEO of Broadcom. ``This acquisition is very strategic to our mission of delivering end-to-end broadband solutions for higher-speed Internet and e-business connectivity. Broadcom's networking technology in combination with ServerWorks' SystemI/O solutions will alleviate the congestion occurring both to and within the servers and storage devices through which all forms of Internet traffic pass. This has the potential to affect every ''click`` of every Internet user -- worldwide -- by speeding up the response time of endpoint server and storage devices.''
``The server's job is to provide compute power and storage to many users simultaneously, so the I/O and networking technology are essential elements to assure optimal system performance,'' said Raju Vegesna, President and CEO of ServerWorks. ``The combination of Broadcom and ServerWorks provides a unique opportunity to innovate, integrate, and enable users to unlock the full potential of Intel's high performance processor family.''
Upon completion of the acquisition, Mr. Vegesna will become Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's ServerWorks Business Unit, which will operate as a wholly-owned Broadcom subsidiary based in Santa Clara.
Servers are critical networking devices for the manipulation and storage of data in enterprise networks and overall Internet infrastructures. The explosive growth of the Internet, comprised of millions of interconnected servers and storage devices, has driven a corresponding acceleration in demand for I/O bandwidth. New high-speed networking technologies, such as 10 Gigabit Ethernet, InfiniBand and Fibre Channel, are placing yet higher demands on I/O and memory bandwidth of these systems. Further compounding this problem, all Internet network elements require extremely high reliability and fault tolerance. According to Dean McCarron of Mercury Research, the traditional server and workstation market continues to experience over 50% annual unit growth rate. Roger Cox, Chief Analyst, Gartner Dataquest, is forecasting that external storage units based on SAN and NAS architectures will realize a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 100% percent from 1999 to 2004.
ServerWorks' primary product offering is a family of devices that addresses a wide range of memory and I/O requirements for server and storage platforms, network appliances and workstations. The primary challenge in every new generation of server and storage design is to optimize the overall platform performance, by balancing higher processor speeds with increasing overall system and I/O bandwidth. ServerWorks has taken a leadership role in driving major server technology initiatives and enhancing overall system performance, such as PCI-X and high-bandwidth memory technologies. Further, the company partnered with IBM to co-develop and integrate MXT(TM), an advanced lossless memory expansion technology. Next generation DirectI/O(TM) solutions from ServerWorks will integrate high performance value-added networking technologies directly into the memory subsystem, which will enable next generation server and storage platforms to process large amounts of data reliably and at full wire speed.
In connection with the acquisition, Broadcom will issue approximately 11 million shares of its Class A common stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of ServerWorks common stock and upon exercise of outstanding employee stock options, warrants and other rights of ServerWorks. These shares have a value of approximately $957 million based upon the closing price of Broadcom Class A common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on January 5. Up to approximately 9 million additional shares of Broadcom Class A common stock will be reserved for future issuance to the stockholders and option and warrant holders of ServerWorks upon satisfaction of certain performance goals. The merger transaction is expected to close within 60 days and will be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The Boards of Directors of both companies have approved the merger, which awaits approval by ServerWorks' stockholders and the satisfaction of regulatory requirements and other customary closing conditions. Broadcom expects to record a one-time charge for purchased in-process research and development expenses related to the acquisition in its first fiscal quarter, ending March 31, 2001.
Broadcom reports net income and diluted earnings per share on a pro forma basis which excludes in-process research and development expenses, amortization of goodwill and purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation expenses, and payroll taxes on certain stock option exercises.
About ServerWorks
ServerWorks Corp. is the world's leading independent supplier of high-performance system input/output (I/O) integrated circuits for servers. ServerWorks' SystemI/O(TM) silicon solutions, which are used pervasively by leading original equipment manufacturers, act as the essential conduits for delivering high-bandwidth data in and out of servers, and coordinating all I/O transactions within the server platform including between external I/O, the main system memory and the CPUs. See www.serverworks.com for more information.
BRCM will be a new player in this arena. It validates the significance of I/O expertise, held by companies like QLGC, EMLX, and the GE, FC, Iband areas. I never imagined that BRCM would try to elbow in...will post this on the Iband/ FC threads for any input from others.
Wonder who will by that private Iband compnay Banderacom... |
