What a rack!! IBM-Intel blade server solution has VoIP capability

Late this past week, IBM announced that more than 100 companies have been granted a BladeCenter open specification license.

A joint initiative of IBM and Intel, BladeCenter provides a license to build compatible networking switches, adapter cards, as well as security, storage, systems management and provisioning capabilities and applications.

We are mainly talking about blade servers. These are architectures that cntain multiple blades (server modules), usually in one rack chassis. Proponents claim a significant advantage over standard, unit-mounted rack server architectures. Shameless Self-Promotion I know, but almost exactly a year ago, I wrote an article that explained the prevalent thinking in the blade community.

So what's the relevancy to VoIP?

Because you may be too busy doing Christmas shopping and attending parties, I've been taking time out to read some of the BladeCenter documentation. And yes, there is a definite VoIP tie-in.

TheIBM HS40 blade server is armed with up to four Intel Xeon Processors, and holds up to 42 bladeservers in one rack.IBM positions the HS40 as "ideal for computecentric applications, including VoIP/softswitch."