Compaq Accelerates Data Center Standards-Based Computing with Powerful, New 8-Way Server Architecture.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1999--

ProLiant Customers to Benefit from New SMP Architecture

Coupled with Advanced Cluster Management Tools

Driving standards-based computing further into the data center, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today announced its role in the development of the new 8-way Profusion(TM) architecture. Compaq co-developed the new 8-way Profusion Symmetric Multi-Processor (SMP) architecture with Intel to provide standards-based ProLiant servers with unprecedented performance and scalability. Compaq further announced that two new 8-way ProLiant server models code-named Thunder and Lightning will use Profusion to harness the performance gains made possible by this new architecture. Compaq also announced a set of Internet-based cluster management tools that can be used to more effectively manage its ProLiant clusters for even greater levels of applications service level performance, control and availability.

The balanced nature of the Profusion architecture provides breakthrough linear scalability for 8 processor servers running Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000, NetWare and SCO Unixware. This scalability, together with the exceptional performance of the memory and I/O subsystems, enables systems to maximize the productivity of the most demanding enterprise applications such as e-commerce, data warehousing, web serving, terminal serving and electronic mail.

"Compaq is taking a quantum leap in bringing superior price/performance and flexibility of standards-based computing to customers with more demanding computing requirements," said Mary McDowell, Vice President and General Manager, Industry- Standard Server Division, Compaq Computer Corporation. "By co-developing the 8-way Profusion architecture, Compaq will benefit from an early competitive advantage by leveraging the technology to provide superior performance, availability and price performance to our customers. Customers will benefit by gaining the most advanced and cost-effective solutions for their critical computing environments."

"We are pleased that Compaq worked with Corollary to co-develop the Profusion chipset." says Dave Cowan, VP and GM Enterprise Server Group, Server Component Division, Intel Corporation "This further illustrates a growing trend of industry innovation around the Intel architecture in servers. The Profusion architecture, combined with the Intel Pentium III Xeon processor, will bring performance, scalability and availability at a tremendous value to Compaq's enterprise customers."

Compaq to Offer Two 8-way Servers

Offering customers a choice for their data center implementations, the 8-way architecture will be featured in two, new Compaq ProLiant server models coming to market later this year, Thunder and Lightning. These advanced, standards-based product offerings will provide data center customers with increased performance and price: performance for new and existing ProLiant customers without requiring modifications or special releases of operating systems and applications.

Thunder is Compaq's ultra-capacity server that will provide the highest levels of integrated fault tolerant storage for 7x24 environments. The server's large internal storage capacity will provide for large amounts of data with space internally for up to twenty-one 1" Wide Ultra2 SCSI hot plug drives. An available 8-way upgrade will leverage the design of the ProLiant 7000, to deliver 8 processor SMP while retaining key system components and chassis/serial number designations.

Lightning, the follow-on to the trusted ProLiant 6500, is the ultimate high-density data center server delivering 7x24 availability for multi-server, rack environments. Optimized for external storage, this server packs maximum computing power into a dense 7U form factor allowing six servers--up to 48 processors--to be placed in a standard 42U rack.

Compaq's new 8-way servers will allow customers to consolidate and centralize their current 4-way server sets, making their data center environments more manageable. Both new servers will include the same balanced and scalable architecture, offering customers a cost effective and smooth migration path to standards-based 8-processor computing power. Pricing, model details and availability for Compaq's new 8-way server models are expected to become generally available in mid-year.

Architecture Breakthroughs Dramatically Improve Performance

The new Profusion architecture consists of innovative memory, processor and I/O bus designs. This architecture links five 100MHz buses in a crossbar switch allowing direct point-to-point, simultaneous access to processors, memory and I/O. Two processor buses and innovative cache coherency accelerators reduce overhead providing maximum processor scalability. A dual-memory bus architecture has been included to reduce memory bottlenecks to provide maximum processor scalability. Finally, Compaq designed multi-peer PCI bridges provide memory streaming and high performance I/O. Compaq's leadership role in the design of the I/O portion of the Profusion architecture facilitated early cooperative development efforts with operating system vendors, key ISVs and customers to create systems optimized for the needs of the data center.

"Customers want reliable and cost effective systems which can scale-up to meet demanding Web, e-commerce and messaging requirements," said Edmund Muth, Group Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation. "Compaq's 8-way SMP architecture offers the scalability that Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition customers want today, and positions customers for further scalability gains with Windows 2000. Compaq and Microsoft remain deeply committed to providing Windows NT solutions for enterprise data center applications."

The new 8-way servers are the first to feature Compaq's new 64-bit PCI RAID controller architecture. Under development for the past two years, the new architecture offers four times the I/O performance of Compaq's award-winning SmartArray 3200 controller, in addition to the performance gains made possible from the Profusion architecture. The new 64-bit PCI RAID controller architecture uses the same configuration, management tools, and data format as previous SmartArray solutions for consistency and maximum investment protection. The controller architecture builds upon Compaq's Enterprise Network Storage Architecture (ENSA), a framework for storage based on the latest technology, software, and services for the enterprise.

Compaq Makes Cluster Management Simple

To complement its 8-way ProLiant product strategy, Compaq is bringing to market advanced, Internet-based cluster management tools that enable customers to more effectively manage complex server clusters -- anywhere, anytime. Compaq's Internet-based cluster management tools, Intelligent Cluster Administrator and upcoming Compaq Insight Manager XE-Cluster Monitor, will offer advanced cluster management tools. These intelligent tools simplify administrative monitoring and management tasks while enhancing the planning, deployment and operations of clusters in mixed configuration environments giving customers greater flexibility and availability with less risk and complexity.

Compaq Intelligent Cluster Administrator is the first standards-based cluster utility providing Internet-enabled cluster administration and a single point of control for Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) clusters. An administrator can create and deploy new cluster configurations, check for any destabilizing conditions, reallocate cluster resources, and perform adjustments for clusters that may be failing in an effort to continue operations without causing the cluster to failover.

Compaq Cluster Monitor will give customers the ability to view their clusters across the enterprise, prioritize cluster events, review specific clusters for analysis/resolution and perform local or remote cluster administration. The Compaq Intelligent Cluster Administrator is available as a stand alone product immediately and will be integrated with Compaq's all-in-one WBEM (web based-enterprise management) program, Compaq Insight Manager XE in Q2 99.

These advanced cluster management tools provide data center administrators the ability to perform MSCS cluster management and administration from an Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator browser, improving efficiency in troubleshooting cluster issues before they occur, and minimizing downtime with remote rapid response capabilities.

For more information about the new Profusion architecture, Compaq's 8-way product strategy and new clustering products, visit www.compaq.com/8-way.

Company Background

Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of computer systems. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking and communication products, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The Company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices.

Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products are available at http://www.compaq.com or by calling 1-800-OK-COMPAQ. Product information and reseller locations are available by calling 1-800-345-1518.

Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.