HP Launches Program Enabling Rapid Deployment of PCI-X 2.0 Technology; Free and Licensable Tools Simplify Technology Adoption.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2002

HP (NYSE:HPQ) today launched its Golden Master program, which provides partners, independent software vendors and other businesses access to free and licensable tools for the rapid deployment of PCI-X 2.0 technology.

Released as an industry standard in July, PCI-X version 2.0 is an evolutionary input/output technology that delivers increased server performance. It does this by enabling the design of peripherals that transfer data up to four times faster than existing PCI-X 1.0 devices over a fully compatible standard PCI connector.

Additional benefits of PCI-X 2.0 technology compared to PCI-X 1.0 technology include the implementation of error checking and correcting (ECC) codes to offer end-to-end protection for all aspects of data transfers and the application of source synchronous mode technology to reduce the time required for one data signal to go from one PCI device to another.

PCI-X 2.0 technology delivers bandwidth speeds capable of supporting future add-in cards, such as 10 gigabit Ethernet, 10 gigabit Fibre Channel and Serial Attached SCSI. The tools and designs available under the Golden Master program support additional new features of PCI-X 2.0, including ECC for high reliability, 4 Kbyte configuration space for more complex add-in cards, device ID messages for enhanced peer-to-peer transfers and 16-bit bus width for embedded applications.

HP was the first company to ship PCI-X-enabled servers with the launch of the HP ProLiant DL760 server (formerly called the ProLiant 8500) in December 2000. HP's Golden Master program for PCI-X 2.0 is an extension of the company's highly successful program for PCI-X 1.0 launched in July 1999.

Since the first program's launch, more than 800 companies and more than 30 universities have downloaded a free reference design and licensed tools that simplify and accelerate the adoption of PCI-X based products. Similar reference designs for PCI-X 2.0 are now available at no cost through the HP Golden Master program. Additional components, including bus functional models, verilog models, documentation and technical support, are available through various licensing agreements.

"ServerWorks was one of the first companies to join HP's original Golden Master program for PCI-X technology, and we believe HP's reference design tools for PCI-X 2.0 will help us bring it to market quickly," said Sujith Arramreddy, chief technology officer, ServerWorks. "PCI-X 2.0 offers significant benefits to our customers: high performance to meet all target applications for the foreseeable future, both hardware and software backward compatibility, a low-cost interface and an easy migration path."

Development of the Golden Master program as part of HP's ProLiant server technology is expected to accelerate the availability of PCI-X 2.0 products that address critical business issues, such as investment protection, bandwidth optimization and ease of use -- without requiring customers to dramatically change their existing infrastructures.

"Our customers have seen the benefits from more powerful, innovative PCI-X technology and want a solution that can support upcoming 10-gigabit peripherals while providing backwards compatibility to their existing installed base," said Karl Walker, chief technical officer and vice president of technology development, HP Industry Standard Servers. "Through the launch of our Golden Master program for PCI-X 2.0, HP remains strongly committed to enabling the development of faster PCI-X peripherals for HP ProLiant server customers."

More information about the Golden Master program is available at http://www.hp.com/servers/pci-x.

About HP

HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp. on May 3, 2002. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development of these products and services may not proceed as planned; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to HP's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2002 and reports filed subsequent to HP's annual report on Form 10-K, as amended on January 30, 2002, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP's results could differ materially from HP's expectations in these statements. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.