Stratus Computer and Microsoft announce OEM agreement to deliver high availability solutions to Microsoft Windows NT and Microsoft BackOffice environments; Stratus RADIO Cluster promises continuous availability for electronic commerce, Internet/Intranet, and database applications.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1996--Stratus Computer, Inc. (NYSE:SRA) announced today the signing of world wide OEM contract with Microsoft Corp.

According to the terms of the agreement, Stratus will ship Microsoft Windows NT Server and Microsoft BackOffice 2.0 products on Stratus' PC server cluster, (RADIO Cluster). The seamless integration of Microsoft BackOffice 2.0 with Stratus' RADIO Cluster ensures high availability, automatic recovery and fail-over of Windows NT Server and Microsoft BackOffice applications.

The recent flurry of cluster announcements is being driven by user demands for higher levels of availability and scalability in easy to manage configurations. RADIO Cluster is the first PC Cluster to deliver on the promise for Windows NT and BackOffice application environments. With RADIO Cluster, failures can be automatically detected and fail-over actions initiated insuring the availability of business critical applications.

With RADIO Cluster customers can replicate Microsoft Internet Information Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Exchange Server applications within a single cluster environment. This ensures the availability of the tightly integrated BackOffice services in the event of a hardware, software, or network failure.

"Microsoft Windows NT Server and Microsoft BackOffice offer Stratus customers a powerful solution for deploying robust corporate Internet/Intranet, database, and electronic messaging applications," said Rich Tong, general manager, desktop and business systems division at Microsoft Corp. "In addition, Microsoft is able to take advantage of Stratus' unique position in the enterprise to help customers who are migrating to a client server environment."

Through the agreement, Microsoft will benefit from Stratus' customer base that is largely focused in enterprise-wide business critical applications. Historically, business critical environments have been skeptical of adopting PC operating systems and applications. However, the integration of Windows NT server with the RADIO Cluster will provide Microsoft customers with unparalleled reliability.

"The combination of Windows NT server and BackOffice with the RADIO Cluster is a unique integration of technologies for customers," said Joseph D'Angelo, vice president, Distributed Computing Products Group, Stratus Computer, Inc. "As companies continue to move mission critical applications such as Internet and electronic commerce services to PC Server platforms, they will require the high availability inherent in RADIO Cluster. Unlike any other Microsoft BackOffice 2.0 system platform, RADIO Cluster ensures that mission critical data and services are available, eliminating business-threatening interruptions."

Availability:

RADIO is available today for the Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51 operating system and Microsoft Back Office 1.5. Customers will be provided with a free upgrade to Microsoft BackOffice 2.0 when available.

Based in Marlboro, Mass., Stratus Computer, Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive computer solutions for critical on-line environments. Stratus and its subsidiaries offer a broad range of continuously available computer platforms, application software, middleware, and professional services. The company markets its systems and solutions to a range of industries in more than 60 countries. Stratus can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.stratus.com.

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Microsoft Windows NT and Back Office are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

CONTACT: Jane Shurtleff Jane Hiscock

Stratus Computer, Inc. Neva Group, Inc.

508/490-6272 617/441-4000, ext. 224

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