IBM has shipped the first pSeries server to support Linux and use the IBM Power4+ 64bit processor.

The eServer p650 mid-range Unix server, which supports two to eight processors, effectively replaces the existing p660 at a significantly lower price, according to IBM. It will be offered in 'Express' easy-to-order standard configurations.

The system supports up to eight dynamically allocated partitions - some of which may be Linux - and includes autonomic capabilities for fault detection and correction.

Red Hat and Suse will provide the 64bit Linux, which will run in separate partitions alongside the standard AIX (Unix) partitions.

Leo Steiner, IBM EMEA vice president for pSeries, said: "The pSeries has made a big impact. The p650 will focus on two markets: high-end customers for departmental and branch systems and mid-range users."

Analyst Phil Payne of Isham Research saw the addition of Linux as a strategic move. "On IBM's mainframe systems Unix has been deprecated in favour of Linux and the same is happening here.

"There is no particular business need for 64bit Linux [yet]. But I see Linux accelerating away from proprietary operating systems over the next two to three years," he said.

The p650 will begin shipping in early December. An entry-level two-way system will cost around £30,000.

The 1.2GHz and 1.45GHz Power4+ chip is the first to come out of IBM's new 0.13 micron fab at Fishkill, New York.

Steiner said the Power4+ processor had very good input-output capability so achieved much higher performance than its GHz rating.