Upgrades to the 12th generation of the company’s line of edge servers include improved processing power, better bandwidth for storage area networks, and expanded networking options. Credit: MF3d / Getty Images Edge server maker Stratus Technologies today announced that the 12th generation of its ftServer line is now on sale, bringing new hardware upgrades, improved resiliency for mission-critical workloads and, in time, support for a broader range of operating systems. The latest ftServers come in four main configurations. The 6920 platform, designed for rigorous data- and transaction-intensive work in large data centers or similar, is the largest, while the 6910 is designed to fit into smaller facilities. The 4920 and 2920, respectively, scale back size and capability to fit into medium-size facilities and remote offices, and running individual applications on shop floors or in industrial plants. The main upgrades, from a hardware perspective, include new Xeon processors that should help with high-volume transactional work as well as AI and IoT, improved SAN bandwidth for more fluid access to central data repositories, and support for both copper and fiber optical networking. But the most important aspect of the latest ftServers might be software support, not hardware. At launch, the platforms will support VMware vSphere, and support for RHEL and Windows Server are planned before the end of the year. That type of flexibility is both crucial for organizations working in an increasingly heterogenous computing environment, according to Dave McCarthy, IDC vice president and edge computing analyst. “There is a shift in OT infrastructure from proprietary systems to ones that are built on open industry standards that facilitate the convergence of IT and OT workloads,” he said. “This helps reduce costs for customers while allowing them to more quickly adopt new technologies.” Open standards make it much easier for businesses to remotely manage systems running on edge servers, and that ease of use has perceptible follow-on effects in terms of productivity, McCarthy added. Maximizing uptime, therefore, is a key potential upside for the ftServer platform. “Industries with capital-intensive, revenue-generating assets view unexpected downtime as the enemy,” he said. “For these organizations, an hour of downtime can result in millions in lost business opportunity. This is driving demand for server platforms that are highly resilient.” VMware vSphere users can buy the 12th generation of ftServers now, and Windows Server and RHEL customers should anticipate variants that support their operating systems of choice before the end of the year. A spokesperson for Stratus declined to provide pricing information. Related content news HPE Aruba adds genAI search tools to network management platform HPE Aruba is using proprietary LLMs to better understand questions posed in its Networking Central platform and generate more accurate, detailed responses. By Michael Cooney Mar 26, 2024 2 mins Generative AI Data Center Management Network Management Software brandpost Sponsored by HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN with SWG: building a SASE foundation By Gabriel Gomane Mar 25, 2024 7 mins SD-WAN feature 4 reasons to consider a network digital twin Today's network environments are too complex to track by purely manual efforts. With digital twin technology, IT teams can build a virtual model of the production network and use it to validate configurations, simulate changes, and streamline ma By Bob Violino Mar 25, 2024 9 mins IoT Security Network Management Software Network Security news Cisco taps former Microsoft, Broadcom exec to grow networking hardware portfolio Martin Lund will lead the group responsible for delivering the silicon, optics, and hardware for Cisco's core switching, routing, and wireless offerings. By Michael Cooney Mar 25, 2024 2 mins Careers Networking PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe