Dell Offers Microsoft Windows NT Operating System and Application Management for All PowerEdge Servers; HP OpenView ManageX SE To Ship With Every PowerEdge Server.

ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998 -- Dell Computer Corporation (NASDAQ:DELL) -- the No. 2 server vendor in the United States and No. 4 worldwide(1) -- today announced that a special edition of Hewlett-Packard Company's HP OpenView ManageX systems management software will ship with every Dell(R) PowerEdge(R) server. HP OpenView ManageX Special Edition (SE) provides a foundation for integrated management of hardware, Microsoft Windows NT(tm) and applications.

HP OpenView ManageX SE extends the enterprise server and network management capabilities that Dell provides its customers through the Dell OpenManage(tm) portfolio of standards-based systems management solutions. Dell PowerEdge products are ready-to-run and ready-to-manage in standards-based environments, ensuring integration into all standards-based corporate-wide management frameworks, including those from HP, Computer Associates International Inc. and Tivoli Systems, a subsidiary of IBM.

Dell plans to begin shipping HP OpenView ManageX SE with every Dell PowerEdge server in coming weeks. It complements the HP OpenView Network Node Manager Special Edition (NNM SE) for Windows NT Server software that Dell has shipped with every server since January, greatly expanding the management capabilities of all Dell PowerEdge servers. Together, these tools provide PowerEdge customers with comprehensive enterprise systems and network management capabilities. HP OpenView ManageX is based on the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) graphical user interface. Both HP OpenView ManageX SE and HP OpenView NNM SE are shipped with PowerEdge servers at no additional charge to customers.

"HP OpenView ManageX SE further enables Dell to meet our enterprise customers' requirements for managing business-critical NT-based computing systems," said Mike Lambert, senior vice president, Dell Server Group. "It helps Dell enterprise customers reduce administration costs and maximize their investments in standards-based systems, networks and applications through systems management tools that can increase availability and optimize performance."

HP OpenView ManageX SE enables application management and provides a leading solution for performance and event management of Windows NT systems. It is designed to ensure that Windows NT-based networks are running optimally 24 hours a day, seven days a week, enabling customers to run business-critical applications on standards-based networks and help lower their total cost of ownership. The package provides real-time performance management, delivers predictive notification and, most notably, performs unattended, automated corrective actions.

The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) standardizes and simplifies management activities, ensuring a globally consistent management view for large-scale, distributed enterprise environments. MMC, commonly associated with the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) initiative, provides a common framework for systems management tools, allowing diverse applications to seamlessly integrate together.

"Dell and HP are united in driving the development and distribution of standards-based management solutions that provide the advanced management capabilities previously associated only with proprietary systems tools," said Olivier Helleboid, general manager of HP's OpenView Software Business Unit. "Dell's distribution of HP OpenView ManageX SE to all of its new server customers is a significant step in driving the adoption of standards-based solutions industry-wide."

Through its DellWare program, Dell can make available the fully featured versions of HP OpenView ManageX and HP OpenView Network Node Manager for a fee. Custom installation and integration of software and hardware is available through DellPlus Server Integration. Additional information on these services is available at http://www.dell.com, by calling 800/WWW-DELL, or from a Dell account executive.

Features and detailed product information on HP OpenView ManageX SE are available at http://www.us.dell.com/openmanage/tools.htm.

Ranked No. 125 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 363 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $15.2 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number 800/388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at http://www.dell.com.

Dell, Dell OpenManage and PowerEdge are registered trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation. HP OpenView ManageX and HP OpenView Network Node Manager are a registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company. Tivoli Systems is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation. Computer Associates is a registered trademark of Computer Associates International Inc. Windows NT, Microsoft Management Console and Microsoft BackOffice are a registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Fortune 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

(1) Source: International Data Corporation, Commercial Systems and

Servers bulletin. Rankings based on U.S. and Worldwide "PC Server

Shipments by Vendor" for Q2, 1998.