Apple Computer, Inc. announced a faster version of its Xserve rack-mounted server and a final release of its Xsan storage system on Tuesday.

Up until recently, Apple only offered its dual 2.30GHz Xserve server to Virginia Tech for their System X supercomputer project. Now, however, the company has taken the initiative to offer the same Xserve servers to its entire customer base.

The company has decided to keep the same prices, but will upgrade the Optical drive from a CD-RW to a drive that can write blank media and read DVD drives. Apple can also include a DVD-RW drive upon request. The server maker admitted that servers will not be used for personal usage, such as gaming, but said more and more companies are offering software on DVD media and Apple wants to support their customers’ needs. The reason for DVD-RW drive, according to the company, is for backup and archival purposes.

The Xserve server with single microprocessor at 2.00GHz, the company top most system before the dual 2.30GHz offering, will cost $2,999 while its dual 2.30GHz system will retail for $3,999. The 2.30GHz is based on 1.15GHz system bus for optimal performance. Both systems will come with unlimited client version of Mac OS X Server. The company also has plans to optionally include Xserve OS for clustered servers, which will come with a 10-user license for additional $2,999.

The company’s Xsan storage system has reached to 1.0 version; this is Apple’s file system for storage options, which was under testing for much of last year and scheduled to be introduced to the market in mid-December, but Apple delayed the launch to "sometime in January 2005" for unknown reasons.

The application costs $999 per Mac server and allows multiple users to access the file systems for data. There is also a volume package from the company for 10 or more machine nodes. This plan will require users to pay $999 per node for major upgrades for three consecutive years. There is also an option to pay $799 per node per year for unlimited technical support assistance, which will be 24 hours a day seven days a week.