Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

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Intel Itanium 2 to power Western Digital lines

Western Digital's Itanium 2 processor system deployment comprises seven units of HP Integrity 8-way, 4-way and 2-way servers running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft SQL Server Database.

KUALA LUMPUR: Intel Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd said that Western Digital, a manufacturer of hard drives for PCs and home entertainment equipment, has deployed Itanium 2 processor-based HP Integrity servers to boost the performance of its production line at its assembly and testing site in Malaysia.

Western Digital's high volume facility needed a server environment that provides stability, speed, ease of use, and low maintenance costs to deliver error-free manufacturing processes, Intel said in a statement.

The financial terms of the deployment were not disclosed.

"Western Digital's manufacturing facilities are operating round the clock, seven days a week. The availability of its mission-critical operations cannot be compromised," said C.P. Sin, senior director of IT at Western Digital's Asian operations.

"This deployment capitalises on Western Digital's own high performance Enterprise Serial ATA (ESATA) hard drive technology. Together, ESATA and our new Itanium 2 processor-based system provide the high-volume at low-cost benefit that meets the demands of our enterprise environment," he said.

The Itanium 2 processor delivers the agility and accountability needed by Western Digital's internally-developed MITECS Manufacturing Execution System (MES) application and supporting database cluster.

"MITECS MES manages the production floor according to plan. Hard drives move through the production line by the thousands, simultaneously.

"Response must occur within seconds of one another. We cannot afford any error. The Intel Itanium 2 processor-based system ensures that this critical requirement is met and gives us peace of mind as it allows us to efficiently and effectively monitor and manage the production tracking applications," said Sin.

Western Digital said it expects performance gains of up to 60%.

Western Digital's Itanium 2 processor system deployment comprises seven units of HP Integrity 8-way, 4-way and 2-way servers running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft SQL Server Database.

http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2003/12/10/technology/6881356&sec=technology