Miami University Goes Back to School With IBM; New RS/6000 Servers and IBM Storage Will Streamline Student Registration Process.

Business Editors and High Tech Writers

OXFORD, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2000

Miami University, one of the nation's top 25 public universities(1) has selected powerful IBM RS/6000 UNIX servers and IBM storage to help streamline a range of important university services including student applications, human resources and financial administration. The IBM servers and storage were selected over competing products from Sun Microsystems and EMC.

The RS/6000-based solution from IBM features the world's fastest server(2) -- the copper-fueled S80 -- paired with IBM SSA disk storage to help Miami University improve recruiting processes and accelerate admission applications, ensuring that selected high-school seniors receive acceptance letters in a timely fashion. Enrolled students will also be able to take advantage of online services including advanced registration, drop/add transactions, class schedules, and degree audit reports---all critical to ensuring a productive academic environment.

"With the new IBM RS/6000 servers, we are now able to reach critical performance milestones that will assist us in running a more efficient and effective operation," said Kristin Froehlke, associate provost of computer and information services, Miami University. "IBM was the only vendor able to offer that kind of performance and reliability."

Miami University selected the IBM RS/6000-based solution over products from Sun Microsystems and EMC because of the robustness, reliability and scalability offered by the IBM products. University officials worked closely with Computer Technology Solutions (CTS) and their supplier, KeyLink Systems, to implement the solution, drawing from Keylink's technical expertise and resources to assemble, test, and deliver the necessary IBM equipment. The completed project consists of a 12-way RS/6000 S80 powering the database, a 4-way RS/6000 H70 running Systems and Technology (SCT) ERP software and IBM SSA disk storage.

"IBM is pleased to provide the server and storage infrastructure that will help Miami University continue its grand tradition in the new century," said Mike Kerr, vice president, IBM Web Server Products. "The new IBM RS/6000 platform and storage solutions will make accessing critical information faster and easier for both students and faculty."

About Miami University

Miami University was founded in 1809 and is the seventh oldest state-assisted University in the nation. The main campus in Oxford, Ohio and other regional sites consists of 21,000 students. The high quality undergraduate and graduate level education offers nearly 107 bachelor's degrees, more than 76 master's degrees, and nine doctoral programs. Eighty percent of students who enroll at Miami graduate, the highest graduation rate among Ohio's public universities and fifth nationally for major public universities. For additional information: http://www.muohio.edu

About IBM RS/6000

More than 1 million IBM RS/6000 systems have been shipped to over 150,000 commercial and technical customers around the world. The RS/6000 family of computers features IBM RISC-based microprocessors and runs AIX, IBM's UNIX operating system. RS/6000 delivers the industry's most complete UNIX offerings by combining applications with hardware, software, service, and support -- a combination that yields new levels of high availability, scalability, system management, performance, and Deep Computing capabilities.

Note 1: According to U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT 2000 SURVEY

Note 2: For RS/6000 S80 benchmark information, see: http://www.rs6000.ibm.com/hardware/enterprise/s80_specs.html