HP'S New MPE/IX 5.5 Offers Improved Networking, High Availability and Coexistence with UNIX Systems; Highlights Include New Internet Services, Network-printing Capabilities and Fast/Wide SCSI Disk Arrays.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 1996--Hewlett- Packard Company today announced plans to ship the newest version of its standards-based operating system for the PA-RISC(1)-based HP 3000 family of business servers. MPE/iX 5.5, the latest in a series of ongoing operating-system releases for the HP 3000, offers enhanced server functionality in the areas of network interoperability and high availability.

The new operating system is expected to begin shipping this month on all HP 3000 servers.

"MPE/iX 5.5 provides new and existing HP 3000 customers with the best of two worlds," said Harry Sterling, general manager for HP's Commercial Systems Division. "It offers an easy, evolutionary path to new computing technologies while, at the same time, providing our traditional users of HP 3000 servers with excellent OLTP performance and high availability for mission-critical environments."

MPE/iX, with integrated POSIX(2), is a robust operating system designed to handle a variety of business-critical, on-line transaction-processing (OLTP) and client/server applications. MPE/iX offers strengths that include ease of operation, a high degree of integration, superior data availability and open-systems flexibility.

NETWORKING AND COEXISTENCE

To further facilitate networking and coexistence, new Internet Services -- previously called ARPA Services -- are bundled with MPE/iX 5.5. Internet services allow file transfer, program-to- program communication and virtual-terminal access between the HP 3000 and other platforms, such as UNIX(R) and NT systems in a TCP/IP(3) environment. The services include Telnet/iX Server, which provides virtual terminals with inbound Telnet access using inetd, bootpd and tftpd.

Also on MPE/iX 5.5, the bundled TCP/IP network-printing solution provides the ability to print MPE spoolfiles to LAN-connected printers using TCP/IP HP JetDirect/JetDirect EX Plus network connections, which facilitate printing within the workgroup environment.

MPE/iX 5.5 reflects HP's continuing commitment to the expressed needs of its customer focus groups. "By continuing to improve our MPE/iX operating system, we are reinforcing our commitment to our customers," Sterling said. "HP is protecting its customers' investments in existing HP 3000 technology, including applications."

HIGH AVAILABILITY

MPE/iX 5.5 offers high availability through features that minimize both unplanned and planned downtime. For example, the MPE/iX 5.5-based patch will support the fast/wide/differential Model 10 and Model 20 high-availability disk arrays, improving system availability by minimizing the unplanned downtime associated with disk failures. Model 10 and Model 20 disk arrays feature more storage capacity, excellent performance, and configuration flexibility for low-end and midrange system customers. Planned downtime is also minimized in MPE/iX 5.5 with HP TurboSTORE/iX 7x24 True-Online Backup as well as a new set of patch management tools.

In addition, HP, in partnership with EMC Corporation, is offering the high-end Symmetrix 3000 Integrated Cached Disc Array (ICDA) systems for HP 3000 environments. The Symmetrix 3000 provides a high degree of storage protection with industry-leading performance for customers who need data protection for between 80GB and a terabyte of data.

AVAILABILITY

MPE/iX 5.5 is expected to ship this month. MPE/iX 5.5 and HP add-on software products are available preloaded and preconfigured on all new HP 3000 systems. Existing MPE/iX customers with HP support contracts may order MPE/iX Release 5.5 from HP using the order packet that is included with the MPE/iX Release 5.5 Communicator. MPE/iX 5.5-based patch is expected to ship by the end of September. More information on MPE/iX 5.5 is available through HP sales representatives or authorized resellers.

HP is the second-largest computer supplier in the United States, with computer revenues in excess of $25 billion in its 1995 fiscal year. HP has been delivering PA-RISC-based business computers since 1986 with high reliability, data integrity, data availability and system availability.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 108,300 employees and had revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com. -0-

Note to Editors: (1) PA-RISC stands for Precision Architecture- reduced-instruction-set computing.

(2) POSIX stands for Portable Operating System Interface, which is an industry standard for open systems.

(3) TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open(tm) Company Limited.

X/Open is a trademark of X/Open Company Limited in the UK and other countries.

CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard Company

Michelle Pritchard, 408/447-1259

e-mail: [e-mail]

or

Lisa Warren-Plungy, 408/447-6928

e-mail: [e-mail]