It looks like that HP has announced that they will be looking to use ARM based processors in some of their future server technologies. Whilst we all know that ARM processor technology is currently used in Smart phones, tablets and some terminal client machines for their high processing / low power design, there is an opportunity to use this technology in the Server market.
HP have stressed that while this technology will allow lower running costs (power and cooling) as well as around a 94% decrease in required space, it should be viewed as an alternative rather than a replacement to Intel's more powerful products. For example they mention that ARM based Servers would be good for delivering static web, whilst leaving the current processor giants to do the heavier number crunching applications.
To show that HP are serious about using ARM technology they are planning to open discovery labs, so customers can see if ARM based servers suit their requirements. The first one will be in Texas and the others are planned to be in Asia and Europe although dates have not been announced as yet.
So why are there no ARM based servers now?
Well if ARM based servers were to be released now, they will inevitably will run into problems with current operating systems, applications & hardware, as the majority are designed to be used on X86 based platforms. However with the whispers of Windows 8 only being around the corner (Yes I know a desktop OS) and that it will be both compatible with X86 and ARM based processors, Server Operating systems and future ARM based applications would only be around the corner.
Regards
Technical ISS Solutions Team
