Roundup: ARM, Dell, HP

Here’s our review of some of this week's noteworthy links for the data center industry:

ARM releases Cortex-M0+ processor.  ARM announced the ARM Cortex-M0+, an energy efficient processor targeting the sensor and control market. The new processor is optimized to deliver ultra low-power, low-cost microcontrollers for intelligent sensors and smart control systems in a broad range of applications including home appliances, white goods, medical monitoring, metering, lighting and power and motor control devices. Laying a foundation for the "Internet of things," the latest member of the Cortex family enablse the creation of smart, low-power, microcontrollers to provide efficient communication, management and maintenance. The M0+ is binary compatible with existing Cortex-M0 processor tools and enjoys full support from the ARM Cortex-M ecosystem. "The Internet of Things will change the world as we know it, improving energy efficiency, safety, and convenience," said Tom R. Halfhill, a senior analyst with The Linley Group and senior editor of Microprocessor Report. "Ubiquitous network connectivity is useful for almost everything - from adaptive room lighting and online video gaming to smart sensors and motor control. But it requires extremely low-cost, low-power processors that still can deliver good performance. The ARM Cortex-M0+ processor brings 32-bit horsepower to flyweight chips, and it will be suitable for a broad range of industrial and consumer applications."

Dell acquires SonicWALL.  Dell announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SonicWALL. SonicWALL’s Next-Generation Firewalls and Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewalls complement Dell’s security solutions portfolio of Dell SecureWorks, cloud security solutions, and Dell KACE vulnerability and patch management. With the acquisition  Dell gains 130 patents, intellectual property and SonicWALL's 300,00 customers and global channel program with 15,000 resellers. The transaction was approved by the board of directors of each company. "We are building a strategic software portfolio to address the needs of our customers with key assets in the fast-growing and highly profitable IT security solutions business. Our customers see security as a key IT concern for the foreseeable future,” said John Swainson, president, Dell Software Group. “SonicWALL gives Dell access to unique intellectual property resources and technology that position us well in fast growing parts of the software security business.”

HP selected by Japan's IDC Frontier.  HP announced that IDC Frontier, a leading data-center provider in Japan, has selected HP Networking solutions to enhance its network infrastructure to meet increasing demand for cloud services. IDC Frontier's new NOAH Self Type on-demand public cloud offering will be powered by HP 5820 Switch Series, which were selected for its capability to scale seamlessly, enabling increased network bandwidth across its nine data centers throughout Japan. “We needed to upgrade our existing network to keep pace with the growing market for cloud computing throughout Japan,” said Yutaka Shindo, director, IDC Frontier. “HP Networking switches provide a solid foundation for us to expand our infrastructure and meet the needs of customers looking to deploy cloud services in the country.”