DataSynapse's GridServer software has been deployed in ABN Amro's macro exotics trading division, which includes the trading of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives such as exotic interest rate options and long dated FX hybrids.

The vendor says GridServer enables the bank's process-intensive pricing and batch reporting applications to be packaged, virtualised and executed across a heterogeneous system of resources for improved performance.

Since the first phase of the project, which included moving 60 dedicated hardware platforms to the grid in March 2005, the bank has seen increases in performance and resilience of trading applications, says DataSynapse. More recently, ABN Amro has moved its end-of-day batch reporting to the grid.

The technology is also enabling the bank to re-use existing hardware resources to alleviate problematic data centre issues of power and cooling.

"The ability to virtualise applications so that they are not tied to dedicated compute, storage and network resources is giving banks like ABN Amro enormous competitive advantage in terms of an on-demand IT infrastructure," says Willy Ross, managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) at DataSynapse. "GridServer enables banks to add critical applications and resources in a scalable and repeatable process, to build a more resilient infrastructure that is able to satisfy the needs of the business."

DataSynpase says ABN Amro plans to extend the grid into its credit derivatives and analytics business lines.