Sun Charts Enterprise Future for Solaris; New Server Software To Deliver Superior Reliability and Manageability, Reduce Costs and Provide Foundation for Internet WebTone.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 1997--Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced directions for its Solaris operating environment designed to cost-effectively meet the network computing needs of enterprise customers.

Sun will enhance Solaris with new features for network-based, mission-critical, mainframe-class applications including improved reliability, expanded 64-bit capability, clustering, and middleware. Solaris for the enterprise is being introduced in multiple phases over a three year time span and will be available for both SPARC and Intel architectures. -0-

                      Phase One:          Phase Two:    Phase Three:
                        Today               1998           1999
                   ------------------   --------------  -------------
Solaris for the
Enterprise:         -Sun Cluster 2.0    -64-bit kernel  -Cluster file
                                                          system

                    -64-bit files/file  -System         -Global
                     system (backwards   management      networking
                     compatible)

                    -Hot pluggable      -Transaction    -Global
                     resources           processing      device
                                         monitor         access

                    -7/24/365 service   -Enterprise RAS
                     and support         (reliability,
                                          availability,
                                          serviceability)

                                        -Live upgrade
                                         support

-0-

"Solaris for the enterprise will extend Sun's network-centric computing reach from the high-end server market to the mainframe and data center markets," said Richard Green, vice president of Solaris Products Group, Sun Microsystems. "Sun is building a new level of enterprise-class reliability, scalability, security and manageability into the Web-enhanced Solaris to provide a more cost effective solution for customers than offerings from other system vendors."

Sun also announced expanded partnerships with leading independent software vendors who will provide applications and middleware to enrich the Solaris environment (see related announcements). Software partners Oracle, Sybase, Informix, Lotus, Netscape, Tivoli, and Syntax will support Sun Cluster software in their high-availability, mission-critical applications. In addition, NCR will cooperate with Sun on a combination of robust message passing middleware, transaction processing and application management software.

As part of expanding support for software developers, Sun announced WebNFS Java Client, a new software development kit (SDK), that will enable network computers and Java clients to access mission-critical information on remote servers.

Solaris for the Enterprise

Solaris will evolve through the end of the century to deliver even higher levels of RAS through backwards-compatible Sun Cluster software and continued improvements in Sun's market-leading system management.

Enterprise customers using Solaris will receive near-100 percent system availability, significantly reducing downtime that can cost millions of dollars per minute in lost revenue. Thanks to Sun Cluster software, also known as the Full Moon project, a 64-bit kernel and advanced enterprise RAS features such as hot pluggable and live upgrade support, the Solaris server operating environment can scale rapidly to meet increasing user demands. Should trouble occur with other applications or the server operating system or hardware, applications and services running on Solaris servers can move transparently from one system to another without failing.

"Sun is offering the most detailed clustering vision to-date in the industry," said Joyce Becknell, director, Distributed Computing Research, Business Research Group. "Customers have always relied upon Sun and the Solaris operating environment for scalability. Now with SunCluster software, enterprise customers can deploy high-availability applications as well."

64-bit Computing

Increasingly complex and powerful computer applications are approaching the limits of 32-bit operating systems. In response to the need for a more capable operating environment, Sun's Solaris accommodates 64-bit applications yet is backwards-compatible with 32-bit applications thus providing the much needed path to seamless migration.

The Solaris integrated management platform will allow customers to flexibly and easily manage complex computing environments, reducing enterprise administration costs, while providing superior access to all system services. The standard application programming interface (API) makes it easy for developers of enterprise applications for Solaris.

Delivering the WebTone

The Solaris operating environment is the foundation for the WebTone, a constant, seamless global network that provides the digital equivalent to the telephone dialtone. Solaris-based systems can be accessed and used by devices connected to the network -- from smartcards to supercomputers -- including NCs, Windows computers and NT servers.

Service and Support

SunService authorized service providers will provide service and support for Solaris for the enterprise and qualified OEMs. Support options will include two-hour 7/24/365 response, "best effort" 7/24/365 response, and basic support 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer" has propelled Sun Microsystems Inc., (NASDAQ:SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $8.5 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com . -0-

Note to Editors: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, Sun Cluster WebNFS, Java and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

CONTACT: Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Terri Molini, 650/786-7983

[e-mail]

or

GCI Group

Todd Tornga, 415/974-7288

[e-mail]