In a move that has been long anticipated, <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Infrastructure/IBM-Combing-System-i-System-p-Lines/?kc=EWKNLNAV040308STR2">IBM will combine its System p and System i server portfolios</A> into one product offering that the company will unite through a common hardware and microprocessor architecture.

IBM is detailing its new portfolio of Power System servers, operating systems and applications at the Common User Group Conference April 2. The new lineup will include two mid-range servers--the IBM Power 520 and 550 Express--along with the JS12 blade. Other high-end systems are expected within a few weeks.

The new portfolio is anchored around IBM's Power 6 processor, which will form a common hardware architecture for the new systems. While IBM will continue to offer its AIX operating system--the company's version of Unix--and continued support for Linux, the i5/OS operating system will be renamed as the "i" OS.