IBM rolls out new network appliances

IBM has released a new line of network appliances designed to take advantage of its recent acquisition of Cast Iron Systems.

The company said that the three new WebSphere offerings would allow companies to integrate and manage applications both on-premise and within cloud computing services.

The new WebSphere offerings will include a blade unit dubbed the DataPower Integration Blade X150B which will aim to better manage point to point integration. Also introduced was the DataPower XC10, a network appliance designed to speed up application performance.

The third of the new WebSphere devices is the Cloudburst Appliance, a network appliance which will focus on management of WebSphere cloud computing builds.

IBM said that all three of the new appliances would make use of products from Cast Iron Systems.

The company was officially acquired by IBM on Monday, with its ability to integrate management of network applications and cloud computing services cited by IBM and the driving factor behind the deal.

IBM also said that it would be opening up its software labs to partner companies. The company hopes that the move will allow partner developers to create products that are more compatible with IBM products and facilitate better networking and collaboration between partner companies.

"Our clients’ success often starts with the partner as the first point of contact," said IBM software business partners vice president Sandy Carter.

"With a goal of helping our partners to succeed, these new resources can help our partners fuel innovation and accelerate smarter planet projects with clients."