IBM and Intel Collaborate on Linux-Based Mobile Workstation Pilot

Strategic Insights -

IBM and Intel Corporation have partnered to create a new Linux-based mobile workstation pilot aimed at increasing the productivity of engineers working in the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) field. The collaboration combines the strengths of Intel(R) Centrino(TM) mobile technology, IBM ThinkPad notebooks, and Cadence Design Systems software. This mobile workstation platform will enable engineers to design and collaborate virtually anywhere, away from their offices.

The mobile workstation solution is currently being used by Intel developers in pilot form for engineering and product development functions, with plans for broader deployment starting in the second half of the year. The platform will be demonstrated at booth #1031 at the Design Automation Conference.

Guru Bhatia, general manager of engineering computing at Intel Corporation, said, "With this new platform, mobility is taking a significant step forward. Engineers will get the flexibility and productivity of Intel Centrino mobile technology with the outstanding performance that Electronic Design Automation software requires."

Kevin Reardon, general manager, IBM global electronics industry, added, "This solution will change the way engineers work. Engineers will have a ThinkPad mobile workstation with the ability to do advanced design work wirelessly and securely, expanding their options of where and when they work."

Key Takeaways:

  • The collaboration between IBM and Intel aims to increase the productivity of engineers working in the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) field through a new Linux-based mobile workstation pilot.
  • The mobile workstation platform combines the strengths of Intel(R) Centrino(TM) mobile technology, IBM ThinkPad notebooks, and Cadence Design Systems software.
  • The platform will enable engineers to design and collaborate virtually anywhere, away from their offices.
  • Intel developers are already using the solution in pilot form for engineering and product development functions.
  • The platform will be demonstrated at booth #1031 at the Design Automation Conference.
  • Initial testing with Cadence's Virtuoso* Spectre Circuit Simulator indicates a performance gain of 56 percent compared to the previous generation processor.
  • The mobile workstation solution is available in custom deployments from IBM Global Services, which offers consulting, deployment, and implementation services for Linux-based solutions.
  • National Semiconductor and IBM Microelectronics are also using the IBM ThinkPad mobile workstation in pilot form.
  • The platform has the potential to transform computing for the energy, oil, and gas industry, enabling high-performance mobility for geoscientists and engineers.

Statistics:

  • The Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 745 delivers a performance gain of 56 percent compared to the previous generation processor.
  • The mobile workstation solution has generated significant productivity gains, with some organizations seeing improvements in design cycle time and time to market for complex ICs.
  • The IBM ThinkPad platform will enable customers to select and acquire their choice of operating environment, with the Linux operating system being used in the current pilot project.
  • The combination of the latest IBM ThinkPad mobile workstations, Intel Pentium M processors, and Cadence software delivers a significant performance improvement and faster design throughput.

Sources:

  • Business Editors/High-Tech Writers Design Automation Conference 2004
  • Business Wire, June 7, 2004
  • IBM and Intel Corporation press release, June 7, 2004
  • Cadence Design Systems, Inc. website, 2004
  • Intel Corporation website, 2004
  • IBM ThinkPad website, 2004