Compaq Announces Support for Microsoft Internet Information Server; Expects New Web Software to Significantly Impact the Way Businesses Work.

Corporation (NYSE:CPQ), the world's leading supplier of industry-standard platforms(a), today announced support for Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) on Compaq platforms.

Compaq said that its customers can immediately set up Internet or Intranet servers based on its industry-leading platforms and Microsoft Internet Information Server. The Company also said it anticipates that IIS will dramatically enhance the way companies work, exchange information, and conduct business and commerce. Compaq said the Internet Information Server software offers significant benefits to customers planning to launch Internet or Intranet web services. These benefits include ease of use, integration with Windows NT Server, support for all key Internet standards including security and powerful performance capabilities. Compaq expects that these attributes, combined with new web server capabilities developed by Microsoft, will help generate many new Web applications.

"We expect Microsoft's new web server software will change the way businesses work," said Gene Austin, vice president of marketing, Compaq Systems Division. "Coupled with the benefits of our industry-leading platforms, customers can deploy IIS on Compaq servers and receive unparalleled performance, dependability and high-availability for their Internet or Intranet applications. Continuing a long established trend, our mutual customers will enjoy the benefits of the Compaq/Microsoft strategic partnership when they deploy IIS on our platforms."

Compaq Platforms: The Right Choice for Microsoft IIS 

The capabilities and features which make Compaq platforms the world's most popular industry standard servers will also make them outstanding Internet servers. For customers who want to create Internet applications that tap the power of Microsoft BackOffice, Compaq offers the ProLiant NT/Array models. These models offer a complete BackOffice solution integrated and optimized for the Compaq platform. Using Compaq SmartStart, the integration tool that optimizes platform configurations and simplifies the installation of tested and reliable servers, customers can deploy Internet Information Server on a BackOffice platform that's easier-to-use, easier-to-own and easier-to-manage. Customers will receive these same integration and performance benefits for IIS when Microsoft incorporates that software into Windows NT Server.

Managing every server on a network, including Internet and Intranet servers, is a key customer objective. Compaq Insight Manager, the Compaq application for managing network desktops and servers, comes standard with every Compaq server. Insight Manager can be launched directly from within Microsoft Systems Management Server, a key application in the BackOffice family. Insight Manager alerts network managers and administrators of server faults, potential server faults, or developing problem areas. Information from Compaq Insight Manager can be passed to all the major network management platforms, including Sun NetManager, IBM NetView, HP OpenView, and Microsoft Systems Management Server. This information exchange enables enterprise-level management of every Compaq server, including Internet or Intranet servers based on Compaq platforms.

Compaq offers additional levels of high availability support for Microsoft NT Server through the Compaq Standby Recovery Server and On Line Recovery Server options. These options, supported across the entire Compaq server line, ensure customers have an effective high availability solution at very aggressive prices. Customers who want to assure that a web server is available almost non-stop can take advantage of these high-availability products. Customers who deploy Microsoft Internet Information Server on Compaq platforms will benefit from well integrated, optimized platforms with significantly enhanced performance, higher-availability characteristics, and better management capabilities.

Company Background

Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal computers, offering desktop PCs, portable PCs, servers and options. Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Compaq also sells directly to customers through Compaq Direct Plus at 1-800-888-5858. Compaq provides 24hour customer support and can be reached through the Compaq forums on America On-line, CompuServe, Internet (http://www.compaq.com), and Prodigy, or by calling 1-800-345-1518. -0-

(a) IDC data, units shipped

Compaq, ProLiant, ProSignia SmartStart, Compaq Insight Manager, are trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation. DirectPlus is a service mark of Compaq Computer Corporation. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Compaq Computer Corporation

Jerele Neeld, John Sweney

713-514-0484

or

Miller/Shandwick Technologies

Marc Gendron, Dave Anderson

617-536-0470

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