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IBM to share technology, designs for blade servers

IBM was to announce yesterday that it would share the designs and technology for a fast-growing line of computers known as blade servers. The move is an effort to enlarge IBM's lead in an emerging market by making it easier for other hardware and software companies to build products for the company's machines.

The announcement reflects IBM's recent strategy of trying to gain a competitive advantage by sharing some of its intellectual property with industry partners and by embracing open technology standards.

Earlier this year, the company opened up its microprocessor business somewhat, giving partners more access to its technology and distributing free software tools for chip design to help customers develop custom chips. And IBM has been a leading corporate supporter of collaborative software projects like Linux, a free operating system maintained and improved by a network of programmers.

Blade computers combine processing, network connections and some storage on a single circuit board. The servers -- each as thin as a knife blade -- slide like drawers into a chassis that resembles a miniature, high-tech bureau; an average chassis may hold four or five servers. The computers have a lower price tag and use less power than traditional servers; also, because they include multiple blades in a single unit, they can be easier to monitor and manage than row after row of traditional stand-alone servers.

IBM's announcement was to be made in collaboration with Intel. Under an agreement reached two years ago, the companies have worked together to design and manufacture blade servers.
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