RLX Technologies

RLX Technologies was a computer company based in The Woodlands, Texas. It marketed what is now known as a blade server. Founded in 1999 by Christopher Hipp, one of the inventors of the blade server, and former Compaq Computers employees, the company pioneered the use of blade servers, a compact, stripped-down computer server that includes all of the necessary components to operate as a computer while taking up minimal space on a standard 19-inch rack and minimizing power consumption. It became part of Hewlett-Packard in 2005.

RLX Technologies
IndustryComputer hardware, Computer software, Computer systems
Fateacquired by HP in 2005
Founded1999
FoundersChristopher Hipp,
Headquarters
The Woodlands, Unincorporated Montgomery County, Texas
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Christopher Hipp,
Founder, former President and CEO
Doug Erwin,
Last Chief Executive Officer
ProductsBlade Servers, Server Management Software

History

RLX was first founded in 1999 as RocketLogix, Inc. with a connection to a Dallas-based investment firm, Cracken Harkey, Co. After convincing the firm that there was a need for a new efficient web server concept, they agreed to build an investment profile for RocketLogix.[1] Former Compaq executives helped to raise money, including Rod Canion (founder and CEO of Compaq) and Robert W. Stearns (former Compaq SVP of Corporate Development, now at venture capitalist firm Sternhill Partners).[2]

After development of their blade architecture, the company changed its name in 2001 to RLX Technologies.[3] This change coincided with the company's move to the Woodlands. Former Compaq executives Gary Stimac and Michael S. Swavely became CEO and President of RLX, respectively.[4]

In 2004 RLX decided to shift their focus away from hardware development and focus their efforts solely on their blade server management system, Control Tower. This shift was necessitated by a decline in the server market, largely due to the dotcom gloom.[5]

Christopher Hipp and David Kirkeby applied for a patent on their design on July 20, 2000, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office awarded patent 6411506 for a "High density web server chassis system and method" on June 25, 2002.[6]

After 5 years of operation, RLX was bought by Hewlett-Packard in October 2005.[7]

References
  1. Hipp, Christopher. "History of Blades", The Hippster. Accessed April 5, 2012.
  2. https://www.zdnet.com/article/former-compaq-execs-in-server-start-up/
  3. "Company Overview of RLX Technologies, Inc.", Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Accessed April 5, 2012.
  4. https://www.zdnet.com/article/former-compaq-execs-in-server-start-up/
  5. [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/23/rlx_exits_hardware/ "RLX quits blade server biz, whacks most of staff", The Register, December 2004. Accessed April 5, 2012.
  6. "High density web server chassis system and method", United States Patent and Trademark Office. Accessed July 16, 2009.
  7. Zarley, Craig. "HP Will Acquire RLX To Bolster Blades", InformationWeek, October 3, 2005. Accessed July 17, 2009.
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