Via Technologies may try to extend the use of its Nano processors from netbooks to servers in a potential challenge to Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. Via has introduced a new Nano-based motherboard for multimedia servers. It is Via's first server product based on the Nano chip, and some analysts said it could mark the start of an effort by Via to expand the chip's role in servers.
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Member since:
2005-07-08
Member since:2005-07-06
Agreed. Many of Nano's frequently-cited shortcomings are irrelevant in the server world (who cares about the GPU in a server?).
CPUs are fast enough these days that (IME) many hosting companies & data centres are presently more concerned about power consumption than raw horsepower.
Member since:
2006-05-15
Member since:
2006-01-22
but even at the desktop, they could offer a lot, if they offered more documentation of their GFX chipsets. Register specs are not enough, I want as a Linux user/customer more involvement like Intel and AMD in this area. Moreover they could also supply their crypto framework for Opensolaris also. If they want to extend to this sector, they should make sure (like Intel) that Osolaris works and can do crypto. They recently released NIC drivers which is very positive. However they need more Open Source involvement, especially at the GFX sector.
Member since:2005-07-06
It is a great processor but they make the same mistake as AMD did - they have Broadcom as their wireless chipset provider and thus it wipes out any possibility of being purchase products with VIA processors in them. I had a look at the HP 2133 Mini-Note, looked great until I realised it had a Broadcom wireless which is unsupported by OpenSolaris.
It always confuses me when a company brings out a great product and then sabotages their own product by aligning with companies who are rabidly anti-opensource/unwilling to release specifications even under an NDA for opensource or third party driver development, such as Broadcom.
Member since:2006-01-22
Member since:2005-07-06
True, but at the same time 'replacing' or 'adding' is not always possible with a netbook and thus leaves many of us out in the cold. I can't understand the psychology of Broadcom's management because they almost seem to be hell bent on screwing their customers over with this idea that profits just 'exist' and customers are an inconvenience to their mission of achieving higher profits.
Member since:
2008-05-26
I think the idea of using netbook processors in enterprise servers is going to go the same way as the idea of using an XML file instead of a database. Some people will try it, find that it doesn't scale past 5 concurrent users, and then forget about it.
However, the Via Nano as a HOME server... completely different story.
Member since:2006-01-19