ClearCube
Encyclopedia
ClearCube is a computer systems manufacturer based in Austin, Texas
, best known for its blade PC
products. Founded in 1997 by Barry Thornton as Vicinity Systems, the company has been called "the blade PC pioneer" by The Register
, and "the long-standing leader in the blade PC hardware arena" by InfoWorld
. In 2005, ClearCube derived about a third of its revenue from virtual infrastructure products in the financial services sector, the other major customers were in the health-care and government sectors, who also were enticed by the security of a centrally managed desktop infrastructure.
was a reseller of the entire product line of ClearCube. Afterwards, IBM bundled some of its own hardware with ClearCube's software, and also diversified its software offering to include Citrix and VMWare
products. When IBM sold its PC division to Lenovo, the latter also began reselling ClearCube blades. Other major PC manufactures, like HP, also began to compete in the blade PC niche around this time. Other resellers of ClearCube products included Hitachi
, CompuCom, and SAIC.
In 2008, ClearCube spun off its software division as VDIworks, but the two companies remain closely associated in OEM partnership, and share the same investors and owners. In January 2008, ClearCube also introduced products implementing Teradici's PC-over-IP protocol, including two dual DVI
thin clients, the I9420 I/Port and C7420 C/Port, which connect to the blades using copper-based and fiber-optic Ethernet
, respectively.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, best known for its blade PC
Blade PC
A blade PC is a form of client or personal computer . In conjunction with a client access device on a user's desk, the supporting blade PC is typically housed in a rack enclosure, usually in a datacenter or specialised environment...
products. Founded in 1997 by Barry Thornton as Vicinity Systems, the company has been called "the blade PC pioneer" by The Register
The Register
The Register is a British technology news and opinion website. It was founded by John Lettice, Mike Magee and Ross Alderson in 1994 as a newsletter called "Chip Connection", initially as an email service...
, and "the long-standing leader in the blade PC hardware arena" by InfoWorld
InfoWorld
InfoWorld is an information technology online media and events business operating under the umbrella of InfoWorld Media Group, a division of IDG...
. In 2005, ClearCube derived about a third of its revenue from virtual infrastructure products in the financial services sector, the other major customers were in the health-care and government sectors, who also were enticed by the security of a centrally managed desktop infrastructure.
Partnerships and competition
Until 2005, IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
was a reseller of the entire product line of ClearCube. Afterwards, IBM bundled some of its own hardware with ClearCube's software, and also diversified its software offering to include Citrix and VMWare
VMware
VMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software founded in 1998 and based in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2004, and operates as a separate software subsidiary ....
products. When IBM sold its PC division to Lenovo, the latter also began reselling ClearCube blades. Other major PC manufactures, like HP, also began to compete in the blade PC niche around this time. Other resellers of ClearCube products included Hitachi
Hitachi
Hitachi is a multinational corporation specializing in high-technology.Hitachi may also refer to:*Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan*Hitachi province, former province of Japan*Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi, members of the Japanese imperial family...
, CompuCom, and SAIC.
In 2008, ClearCube spun off its software division as VDIworks, but the two companies remain closely associated in OEM partnership, and share the same investors and owners. In January 2008, ClearCube also introduced products implementing Teradici's PC-over-IP protocol, including two dual DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
thin clients, the I9420 I/Port and C7420 C/Port, which connect to the blades using copper-based and fiber-optic Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
, respectively.
Further reading
- Michael Kanellos (September 20, 2002) Start-up brings 'blades' to the desktop, CNETCNETCNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
News - Shelley Solheim (June 8, 2006) ClearCube readies new PC blade tools, InfoWorldInfoWorldInfoWorld is an information technology online media and events business operating under the umbrella of InfoWorld Media Group, a division of IDG...
- Oliver Rist, February 4, 2005 ClearCube makes good blade system even better, InfoWorldInfoWorldInfoWorld is an information technology online media and events business operating under the umbrella of InfoWorld Media Group, a division of IDG...