Rackable Systems Launches Ground Breaking MicroSlice™ Architecture

Rackable Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:RACK), a leading provider of servers and storage products for large-scale data centers, today announced the immediate availability of a broad portfolio of servers based on its new MicroSlice™ architecture, which eliminates the need for costly virtualization software and sets a new standard for price-performance-per-watt.

The MicroSlice architecture enables the smallest server footprint ever introduced by Rackable Systems, supporting up to 264 servers per cabinet while drawing as few as 72 watts per server. MicroSlice eliminates the need for virtualization software through "physicalization,” a revolutionary, hardware-based approach to virtualization which further improves the total cost of ownership.

"Rethinking the whole approach to an existing market is at times the best way to achieve the magic blend of reducing costs and improving performance,” said Mark Peters, senior analyst with the Enterprise Strategy Group. "Rackable Systems’ innovative mindset has achieved just that with its new building-block server architecture – delivering a package that is perfectly targeted for any users seeking to ‘do more for less’ in the current tight economic conditions.”

MicroSlice establishes dramatic new server price points, with many configurations starting at sub-$500, while delivering the performance and server-class features required by cloud computing and Web-based environments. This 80 percent per-server cost reduction yields a 51 percent improvement in price/performance—a welcomed relief for many IT departments struggling to scale their infrastructures despite reduced CapEx and OpEx budgets.

"The new MicroSlice architecture is radical; we eliminated the need for virtualization software and set new density standards with 264 servers per cabinet,” said Mark Barrenechea, president and CEO of Rackable Systems. "Our MicroSlice-enabled products are timely in this economic climate, allowing data center budgets to go twice as far.”

New MicroSlice-based Servers

Four new MicroSlice-based servers are available in CloudRack™ tray and half-depth server configurations. Leveraging the latest, high-density AMD board designs, these new servers support AMD’s Dual-Core Athlon™ and Tri or Quad-Core Phenom™ processors. All of these products are supported by Rackable’s Roamer advanced server management module and benefit from ultra-high efficiency power supplies.

Product Details

CloudRack Trays:

• TR1000-AT1: Up to six servers, each with Dual-Core AMD Athlon™ CPU; two DIMM slots; one 2.5” hard drive
• TR1000-ATP1: Up to three servers, each with Dual-Core AMD Athlon™, Tri-Core AMD Phenom™ or Quad-Core AMD Phenom™ CPU; four DIMM slots; one 2.5” hard drive

Half-Depth Servers:

• C1000-AT1: Dual-Core AMD Athlon™ CPU; two DIMM slots; one 3.5” internal hard drive
• C1002-AT1: Dual-Core AMD Athlon™ CPU; two DIMM slots; two 3.5” or four 2.5” hot-swap hard drives

For more information about Rackable’s MicroSlice architecture, please visit http://www.rackable.com/microslice.

About Rackable Systems

Rackable Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: RACK) is a leading provider of Eco-Logical™ servers and storage for large-scale data center deployments. The company’s products, available for purchase or lease, are designed to provide benefits in the areas of density, thermal efficiency, serviceability, power distribution, data center mobility and remote management. Founded in 1999 and based in Fremont, California, Rackable Systems is a founding member of The Green Grid and serves Internet, enterprise software, federal government, entertainment, financial services, oil and gas exploration and HPC customers worldwide.

To learn more about Rackable Systems, visit www.rackable.com.

Rackable Systems, MicroSlice and CloudRack are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rackable Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.