There have been many changes in the Virtual Loaner Program offering recently, and we wanted to highlight some new capabilities, some things you might not know, and some things that are coming soon.

New VLP URL -- VLP now has a new "vanity" URL, that is, one that is much easier to remember, type in to a browser, or send to a friend or colleague. The new URL is http://ibm.com/systems/vlp

IBM POWER6 architecture now available -- On May 22, 2007 IBM announced the IBM System p™ 570 server, based on the innovative IBM POWER6™ processor technology. Combining the fastest-ever IBM Power Architecture™ technology with enhanced virtualization capabilities and reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS) functions, the p570 offers outstanding performance and new capabilities designed to help ease administrative burdens and increase system utilization. POWER6 processor technology includes simultaneous multi-threading and hardware decimal floating point capability.

VLP now provides POWER6 architecture System p logical partitions (LPARs) with IBM AIX® 5.3 TL06 (AIX 5.3J) preinstalled and ready to use.

p AVE Beta Program -- IBM System p Application Virtual Environment for x86 Linux (System p AVE) supports the installation and running of most 32-bit x86 Linux applications on any System p model with POWER5™ or later technology. It creates an x86 Linux application environment running on POWER processor-based systems by dynamically translating x86 instructions to Power Architecture instructions. This feature can help you expand your addressable market to Linux on POWER servers at minimal to no cost by allowing you to run your existing x86 Linux applications in a POWER environment.

VLP provides System p partitions with System p AVE-enabled RHEL4 Linux installed, ready for your remote access. For more information, see http://ibm.com/systems/p/linux/systempave.html, or send an e-mail to LoP@us.ibm.com.