Available in rack format, the NovaScale R480 E1 server further strengthens the NovaScale Universal range, which extends from entry-level to full-scale enterprise servers.

"Bull is pursuing its infrastructure rationalization strategy based around Intel processors, while continuing to build in increased flexibility, with the launch of the NovaScale R480 E1 quad-core server - an ideal platform for consolidation and virtualization", explained Philippe Miltin, Vice President of Bull's Products and Systems Division.

Broad capacity combined with the ability to run simultaneous processes - thanks to the quad-core processors - provides a solid springboard for consolidation and virtualization.

When it comes to virtualization, the NovaScale R480 E1 server also provides a wide bandwidth with 16 independent and interconnected cores, and with up to one fourth TB of scalable system memory, and 1.1TB of internal storage. Robust and scaleable, the new NovaScale server helps boost datacenter efficiency, and enables the total cost of ownership to be reduced by facilitating consolidation.

VMware virtualization solutions are certified on these new server models.

"The Bull server platform based on the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 7300 series allows customers to run their business-critical applications on the revolutionary Intel Core micro-architecture", stated Kirk Skaugen, Vice President, Digital Enterprise Group, Intel. "Not only does it bring new capabilities for server virtualization and emerging business models, it provides industry-leading performance and efficiency."

The servers are administered using NovaScale Master, the applications suite developed by Bull to facilitate server deployment and reduce the cost of administering IT infrastructures.

The NovaScale R480 E1 server combines reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAS) and ensures data integrity thanks to the following functions and elements: memory mirroring and sparing, hot pluggable PCI Express cards and SATA/SAS hard disk drives, redundant hot swappable power supplies and fans. The integrated RAID card, the I/O extension and remote systems administration leave PCI slots available, thus providing the headroom required for intensive I/O throughput.

Technical features include:

• Compact design-optimized rack in 4U format
• Up to 4 Intel Xeon 7300 quad-core processors
• FSB 1066 Mhz Bus, EM64T
• RAID SAS card integrated into the motherboard
• Up to 1.1TB (8x146 GB SAS) internal hot-swappable disk space
• Up to 256 GB of main memory (DDR2 533/667)
• Seven PCI Express slots

Software includes:

• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
• SUSE Linux SLES 10