As part of this agreement, IBM BladeCenter will be the only blade server platform available for custom ICE Cube implementations globally. IBM BladeCenter integrates servers, networks, storage, and business applications in a single, highly efficient system and is thus ideal for packing large amounts of computing power into portable data center environments.

The ICE Cube modular data center solution will be outfitted with IBM BladeCenter T or HT systems, which meet Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) Level 3/ European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) requirements, so are ideal for use in telecommunications environments and carrier facilities. The blades are designed to withstand extreme environments where modular data centers are often deployed, such as remote construction sites or oil fields.

"Rackable Systems sees this strategic relationship as a further opportunity to provide our customers with unique, built-to-order solutions", stated Mark J. Barrenechea, president and CEO of Rackable Systems. "Including IBM BladeCenter in ICE Cube enables Rackable to expand its market reach to new customers, new fault tolerant workloads and new markets seeking products that meet NEBS requirements."

Rackable is also joining Blade.org, the industry consortium driving open innovation in blade-based solutions, and plans to contribute to development and innovation around IBM's BladeCenter platform. IBM and Intel took a unique approach in the blade server industry in 2004 by opening the architecture and specifications of the IBM BladeCenter system. This move enabled a growing community of over 500 technology companies like Rackable to download the specifications for free, develop products for the BladeCenter ecosystem and shape the direction of the blade server platform.

"IBM continues to forge agreements to expand the marketplace for IBM BladeCenter. Today's announcement with Rackable Systems creates yet another opportunity for customers to select BladeCenter and highlights the industry leading density and energy efficiency BladeCenter provides", stated Alex Yost, vice president of IBM BladeCenter. "Rackable Systems' selection of IBM BladeCenter is further evidence of the primacy of BladeCenter's design, strong customer demand for the product and IBM's commitment to foster an open ecosystem around it."

Rackable Systems' new ICE Cube with BladeCenter solution will enable users to realize the benefits associated with ICE Cube in conjunction with those offered by IBM's BladeCenter product line. The ICE Cube is available in 20- or 40-foot container sizes. BladeCenter-specific configurations of ICE Cube will allow Rackable Systems' enterprise customers to reach densities up to 1,344 dual socket, Quad core Intel Xeon blades, or 672 quad socket, dual core AMD Opteron blades.