IBM Merging with Sequent 59
Ober was the first
to write in with the news that IBM is merging with Sequent. IBM says it
plans to begin selling Sequent products immediatley after
the merger, and it looks like they even want to improve
some of Sequents NUMA machines. IBM and Sequent are
both involved in Project Monterey.
Re:IBM isn't merging with anyone (Score:1)
Re:IBM has set out to kill Microsoft (Score:1)
Re:IBM has set out to kill Microsoft (Score:1)
Sequent's big thing is NUMA architectures --- an alternative to SMP which avoids some of SMP's problems (ensuring cache consistency across many processors sharing the same memory is a nightmare, for instance, and carries a significant performance penalty for large numbers of processors). Buying Sequent doesn't mean anything for the low end, because SMP works well there; it's high-end multiprocessing they're after.
Multiple OS-s (Score:1)
What strikes me as the bigest difference between NUMA-s and other multi-processor machines would be the idea of using different OS-s (well, actually only their Unix and M$ NT) on the multi-procesor system so that each OS gets one (or more?) processor to work with. At least that's what they claim here [sequent.com]:
NUMACenter enables simultaneous use of both Unix and Windows NT on one system.
Re:Anyone used Sequent systems? (Score:1)
I just wish they'd stop sending us firefly cards that die out every so often. Sheesh.
Merging? (Score:1)
Re:project monterrey -> project ibm (Score:1)
As far as anyone bothering and especially in IBM's case, it is most likely because they can and because some middle level executive convince some upper level executive that it was a good idea at a cheap price and it fits with this strategic goal or that sentence in a mission statement. It doesn't have to make sense but it does have to work out to some monetary and market advantage and this one does (although I consider it negleable in big blue's case).
I expect someone else to do the same with SCO. We'll see.
Re:What's the point of NUMA? (Score:1)
The most interesting answer to your question is there are plenty of companies out there who's venture capital come from Intel. When Intel owns say 20% of your company and you need an enterprise level computer for your data center do you honestly think that Intel is going to let you buy a PowerPC/UltraSPARC/Alpha based system with their money. The answer is no.
Look at Intel invested startups like eToys [www]. Just Intel boxes running linux, NT or Sequent's unix.
This is an interesting way for Intel to invest to preserve it's market dominance.
Re:Anyone used Sequent systems? (Score:1)
Still remember changing directories, furtively modifying the
Way back when, eh?
bsmg9810
Jobs at Sequent (Score:1)
Mostly internal and external help desk though.
Call Volt if you are looking.
Ken
Re:What's the point of NUMA? (Score:1)
UltraSPARC scales up to 64 CPUs (in reality). Sequent's boxes scale up to 64 CPUs (in marketing).
UltraSPARCs are 64 bit and can use terabytes of memory. Intel's CPUs are 32 bit and are limited to 2 gigs (or maybe 4).
What's the point of NUMA? (Score:1)
Now, it may be just me, but I am completely missing the point of of this. Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy a Sun box instead? The support and the availability of applications would be much better too. Who the hell would want to run a large data centre on 32 bit intel hardware anyway???
Re:What's the point of NUMA? (Score:1)
merger (Score:1)
As far as I'm concerned, issuing such a bowdlerised press release is like sticking a kick-me sign on your own back, I don't understand how anyone could see it in a positive light.
In this light, /. reported properly, that is, without comment. You're a grown hacker, you figure out what it means.
Re:Anyone used Sequent systems? (Score:1)
Re:IBM has set out to kill Microsoft (Score:1)
Who hasn't testified against Microsoft recently?
If IBM has set out to kill Microsoft does that mean Lotus will begin to give a rat's ass about any platform other than Windows? Does that mean IBM will begin to support to PowerPC processor?
IBM has a lot of vested interest in Microsoft's continued success. The affair isn't over; IBM is just looking for a less demanding companion.
ok Sequent are SMP (Score:1)
go look up the byte stuff on this
seems they got taken over by everybody else tho
ah well would love still to work for them
john jones
a poor student @ bournemouth uni in the UK (a deltic so please dont moan about spelling but the content)
I've used Sequents. (Score:1)
I heard University of washington had some positively monsterous Sequents for student use, but I never had access to one.
-Rich
Re:Anyone used Sequent systems? (Score:1)
btw, (loosely typed from memory
*** DO NOT stage files in
*** too many other important things! ***
You have new mail.
uxa 1>
why they call it a "merger" (Score:1)
Disclaimer: I am not an accountant, but I am an employee of Kenan Systems, which merged with Lucent Technologies a few months ago. (The proprietor of Kenan Systems got about $1.5 billion in the deal; Lucent's market cap is over $190 billion....)
Re:I've Used Sequent (Score:1)
NUMA (Score:1)
Does anyone know anything about how this NUMA technology works? I couldn't find anything very specific on IBM's website, and Sequent's site didn't really explain it either.
Re:IBM isn't merging with anyone (true, but...) (Score:1)
Whenever an IBM buys a controlling interest in a smaller company like Sequent, they have might have several motivations. In this case, I suspect there are two major ones. First, this gives IBM a position at the top, although a small one, in the large-scale business Unix systems market. Second, and possibly even more important, this buys them a lot of engineering experience and expertise in increasingly important NUMA design. With Sequent being one of approximately two large NUMA systems companies, IBM buys their way out of the mistake(?) of not developing NUMA themselves years ago -- and possibly saves money in the process.
If the acquisition of expertise and engineering work is the major reason for the purchase, IBM must go to some considerable trouble to prevent Sequent engineers from jumping ship. Otherwise, this deal is not much of a bargain. The first thing IBM will do is treat Sequent, it's employees, designs, and market with the utmost respect. They might even make noises about improving the compensation of engineers and knowlegable sales staff.
While referring to this purchase as a "merger" is pretty transparent, it still conveys respect and accomplishes the same objective. It is a flattering way to tell Sequent that what they are doing is important and that IBM understands and respects it.
merging... (Score:1)
Re:IBM isn't merging with anyone (Score:1)
So to show how silly it is.. check out this article..
http://cnnfn.com/1999/07/12/deals/ibm/
:)
Re:project monterrey -> project ibm (Score:1)
And regarding your hostile and rude comment about Sequent employees.. I bet that if anything some of the marketing or lawyers will be layed off.. but they still need the people who support sequent products (ex. OS, Compiler group).
Maybe you shouldnt be so quick to jump to conclusions and just wait and see.
Watch Sequent's people jump ship. (Score:1)
If IBM doesn't come up with an additional incentive for them within the next couple weeks, watch for them to start taking a hike as soon as they've had a chance to evaluate offers, line up financing for their next startup, and/or the minute their next vesting increment hits.
Multiple OS-s not new in Mainframe world (Score:1)
Not long ago they rehacked their machine identity system so that you could license software for the number of CPUs in a domain rather than the number in the box.
Re:IBM isn't merging with anyone (Score:1)
Come on.
Re:*IBM*!!!! (Score:1)
Anyways, I think we don't need to worry about this. We'd be in trouble if AOL and MS merged to create the American-Wintel-On-Line system (AWOL).
Ooh, exciting! (Score:1)
NUMA on RS/6000 and AIX (Score:1)
As far as NUMA is concerned (Although they refused to really call it NUMA) they will be upgrading the current SP backbone (300MB/s) to 2GB/s and later to even over 10GB/s with very low latencies. (That's Byte, not bit)
As far as the software is concerned, Sequents software will be incorporated into Monterey. AIX and Monterey will evolve to become a single source tree to be marketed under a new name. They were asking for original names, although they said it shouldn't have a number in it...
Matt
Re:Multiple OS-s (Score:1)
Re:IBM has set out to kill Microsoft (Score:1)
If IBM has set out to kill Microsoft does that mean Lotus will begin to give a rat's ass about any platform other than Windows? Does that mean IBM will begin to support to PowerPC processor?
They do. Lotus has announced that the Lotus Notes will be available for Linux. The current RS/6000 line of workstations and servers run on both PowerPC and IBM Power architectures.
As for this acquisition of Sequent, this is really strange. I'm not sure what they want to do with it, really, other than bolster their NT side. Maybe we can see modifications to Linux for the Sequent machines, though. That would be cool.
It's still bus based (Score:2)
More information is available on SGI's NUMA page [sgi.com], still more info available here [sgi.com]
Disclaimer: I work for SGI, but I believe in everything I say.
Re:why they call it a "merger" (Score:2)
I've Used Sequent (Score:2)
Sequent had two problems in my opinion. First, they were charging an outrageous amount of money for their equipment. Despite claims to use off the shelf components such as the Intel chip, virtually everything they had was proprietary. They even used non-standard SCSI connectors. The machines were supposed to be "mainframe class" and were priced like it. The second problem was their proprietary Unix OS. Sequent was always a niche player and it was problematic getting support tools to run on them. Everybody's first platform is Sun, then HP, IBM, etc. Sequent was way down the list if supported at all. Plus being a minor platform app vendors always tried to blame their problems on OS bugs.
Having said that, the app I worked on is now running on all NUMA's and is doing quite well. We were able to run some serious transaction volume through these machines. Though I'm not sure how they stack up versus the competition today.
project monterrey -> project ibm (Score:2)
Also, project monterrey has three members, SCO, Sequent and IBM. Now it has two members. Is SCO in the merger kill zone too? Yes they are. What would project monterrey be if only IBM was the only member.
(flame bait)Not that monterrey will be able to compete with linux and solaris.
Seriously Sequent adds up to almost nothing when compared to any of the Unix big boys this is barely news worthy, only because sequent has shown up in all the project monterrey press releases next to big blue.
Good luck to all those sequent employees. I can hear the resumes being edited from my office.
IBM has set out to kill Microsoft (Score:2)
Whatever decisions IBM makes at this crucial time are going to be for long term interests. Recently, IBM has announced a lot of support for Linux, has really pushed its RS/6000 archetecture and AIX operating system and has now merged with Sequent, a company whose products compliment the RS/6000. And a little off topic, an IBM executive recently made a testimony against Microsoft regarding OS/2 and Windows, in court.
In the past couple years IBM has partnered with Sun Microsystems and Netscape to try to destroy the Microsoft monoply. The three companies allied not only in technical inovation but also in court.
There is an obvious pattern here. IBM is trying to push away from the industry's dependance on Intel and Microsoft systems. And although it's going to take a long time for this to really happen, any attempts made by IBM will definetly have an impact on the industry, consumers and even Linux.
Fun bit from press release (Score:3)
Dunno 'bout you, but the fact that they bothered to differentiate says worlds to me about the current state of the corporate mindset. As far as things have come for Linux (and open software in general) in the last 18 months or so, every now and then I have to wonder if I really know the half of it.
here's NUMA (Score:3)