Compaq Launches Industry's First Web-Based Enterprise Management Program; Compaq Insight Manager XE Delivers Next Generation Management.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 1998--In a first for the computer industry, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today announced a new systems management program to provide a simplified, industry-standard approach to managing IT distributed infrastructure and applications. Typically, the various devices of a networked system require disparate management tools. With Compaq's Web-based products and partners, customers can securely manage servers, desktops, laptops, workstations, databases, networks, storage, operating systems and applications with a consistency of management information that increases the availability and efficiency of Compaq systems and solutions. The result is more simplified planning, deployment and operation of the IT infrastructure and applications. The first offering of this program, Compaq Insight Manager XE, is a management application built on Web-based Enterprise Management (WBEM) technology.(1)

Compaq Insight Manager Program

With Compaq's Insight Manager Program, medium-sized businesses with little or no systems management capabilities in place, or large corporations with sophisticated systems management operations now have the opportunity to select a wide range of systems management capabilities and services from Compaq, Compaq Channel Partners, Service Partners and Compaq Systems Management Software Partners.

"The scope of this program includes management products, support, and services for Intel and Alpha-based products running under Windows NT, NetWare, SCO UNIX, Digital UNIX, OpenVMS, and Tandem NSK," said John T. Rose, Compaq Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Computing Group, Compaq Computer Corporation. "This is the first comprehensive program to include all of Compaq's recently acquired technology from Tandem and Digital."

Compaq's management software partners will continue to offer the broadest and most complete solutions, complementing Compaq Insight Manager XE. Compaq's next-generation management solution partners, such as BMC Software, Computer Associates-Unicenter TNG, Hewlett-Packard Company's OpenView Software Division, and Tivoli Enterprise Software, among others, are committed to using WBEM technologies as the point of integration for their management applications and suites.

"Compaq recognizes their business customers operate in a complex world of heterogeneous systems--one where the ability to provide products and services more reliably, effectively and efficiently than the competition determines success," said Richard L. Ptak, Vice President, Solutions for Enterprise Management, D. H. Brown Associates, Inc., an industry consulting firm. "The management capabilities and strategies Compaq announces today are targeted directly at increasing the ability of their clients to do exactly that."

Compaq Insight Manager XE v1.0

With Compaq Insight Manager XE, the first product of Compaq's new Insight Manager Program, network managers can browse, view and manage the real-time status of a multi-vendor distributed systems network securely, anytime, from wherever they want--a new level of accessibility to management information for managers of standards-based distributed computing environments.

"In this first version of Compaq Insight Manager XE, we are enhancing the current capabilities of Compaq Insight Manager with the new WBEM capabilities, thereby protecting our customers' investment in Compaq Insight Manager while allowing them to move into WBEM with ease," said Steve Kirchoff, Vice President of Management Solutions, Compaq Computer Corporation. "Now organizations can more quickly and easily manage their computing infrastructures from anywhere using WBEM-based technologies and a Web browser as the management console. This, once again, delivers on our commitment to make Compaq IT infrastructure and solutions the best managed in the enterprise."

Providing access to a broader range of systems and functions, Compaq Insight Manager XE enables management of Compaq and non-Compaq Intel systems regardless of the management protocol used, giving IT professionals the ability to view and control systems in the manner in which they are deployed in their environment. For example, an administrator can manage groups of systems that are organized by location, workgroup or technology type.

"WBEM will change the nature of IT management," said Frank Artale, General Manager of Enterprise and Systems Management at Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft plans to make the Windows NT-based infrastructure WBEM compliant in order to help our customers address their enterprise management challenges. We are pleased to see Compaq's leadership in promoting the WBEM initiative and delivering wide-ranging WBEM-based management solutions to our mutual customers."

Selected availability shipments are expected to begin in mid-August with expanded availability following at a later time. Compaq Insight Manager XE will be provided at no charge to Compaq's installed base and new customers. All users will be offered an enhanced support service contract, which will be a chargeable service. Customers and partners wishing to know more about Compaq Insight Manager XE, partners and services should contact their Compaq account manager.

Lifecycle Management Services

Compaq Services has management-focused services available today for large-scale end-to-end computing environments. In September, Compaq Services plans to announce a comprehensive portfolio of lifecycle services, including planning, design, implementation, and support services to help customers manage their IT environments. The services will target major accounts and Compaq channels with Intel and Alpha-based Windows NT, NetWare, OpenVMS, Tandem NSK, and UNIX platforms.

In addition to Compaq-delivered services, the company will be working with service partners to give customers choice and flexibility in implementing Compaq Insight Manager XE-based management solutions and partner software.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a Fortune Global 200 company. Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. 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.

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

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