---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUN QUICKCHECK ENHANCES SUN'S SPARCSERVER PRODUCT LINE SunFLASH Vol 22 #6 October 1990 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Software Product Speeds File System Checking, Improves Reboot Times Sun Also Offers 6-Megabyte/Second IPI For SPARCserver 470 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --October 10, 1990-- Sun Microsystems today introduced the latest in a series of sophisticated server software products, strengthening its position as the leading vendor of UNIX(R) servers for workgroup computing environments. Called Sun QuickCheck, this new unbundled software product greatly improves the availability of data residing on Sun SPARCservers(TM) and SPARCstations(TM), allowing users to get back on-line faster after an interruption. In addition, Sun announced that its popular 6-megabyte/second Intelligent Peripheral Interface (IPI) hard disk drive is now available for the SPARCserver 470 and that it has reduced the drive's price by 21 percent. Sun QuickCheck Helps Protect Valuable Data Even with the most reliable systems, hardware and software failures can be caused by administrator error or power interruption. For example, in some areas of the country, severe weather conditions such as electrical storms can cause a system to "crash." Sun QuickCheck helps ensure that data residing on a network is more consistently available to users by speeding up file system checking, thus reducing the time it takes to reboot a system after a failure. Using Sun QuickCheck, file systems can normally be brought back on-line within 10 minutes, regardless of disk capacity. In contrast, traditional UNIX file system checking utilities can take as long as 30 minutes on a small system and sometimes as long as two hours on systems that have moderately large disk configurations. This new product further demonstrates Sun's unique approach to servers in workgroup computing, in which a balance of compute power, I/O performance and networking capabilities is achieved through innovative software and hardware products. Similar products from other vendors are either proprietary or expensive. Sun QuickCheck will be particularly useful in markets that depend on "time on-line." For example, DBMS end users running Sun QuickCheck will experience less downtime, meaning quicker access to business or decision support data. Users in financial institutions, who can't wait for computers to "come back up," can avoid missed business opportunities. For electronic publishing users, quick recovery from a system crash helps to meet deadlines, avoiding unhappy subscribers and advertisers. Sun's Server Software Strategy Sun QuickCheck is the latest addition to Sun's server enhancement product line, which addresses critical customer needs for high performance, high data availability and easy large-system administration. Traditional time-shared minicomputers can offer similar features only through expensive, proprietary technologies. In contrast, Sun's products deliver availability, performance and ease-of-adminstration in an open and more efficient workgroup computing environment. Following this strategy, Sun earlier this year introduced two other advanced software products, SPARCserver Manager and Sun Database Excelerator. SPARCserver Manager provides enhanced data availability as well as easier system administration for mid-range to high-end servers. Sun Database Excelerator dramatically increases database performance by boosting system throughput and reducing response times. High-Performance, Industry-Standard Drive Sun's 6-megabyte/second IPI drive is now available for the SPARCserver 470. Previously offered only on the SPARCserver 490, this fast, industry-standard drive is critical for applications that rely on servers to transfer large amounts of data, such as imaging applications in which a single file may use 3 to 4 megabytes of disk space. The 8-inch, 911-megabyte drive, which uses sophisticated parallel head I/O technology, also boosts the random I/O performance of file server and database server applications by up to 25 percent. Sun has reduced the price of the drive to $11,500, down from $14,500. Pricing, Availability Sun QuickCheck can be used on any diskful SPARCserver or SPARCstation. It interoperates with all existing SunOS(TM) file system utilities and is fully compatible with existing user programs. Priced at $500, Sun QuickCheck runs under SunOS 4.1 and is available now. The 911-megabyte IPI subsystem, priced at $11,500, is offered for the SPARCserver 470 and 490 and is available immediately. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. ### UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratory, Inc. SPARCserver and SPARCstation are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc., licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. SunOS is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other products or services mentioned in this document are identified by the trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations. For reader inquiries, telephone 1-800-821-4643 outside California. Inside California, call 1-800-821-4642. Press Contact: Carrie Dillon (415) 336-3564 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sunflash is an electronic mail news service from Sun Microsystems, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. It is targeted at Sun Users and Customers. For additional information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM SunFlash is distributed via a hierarchy of aliases. Try to address change requests to the owner of the alias that you belong to. If you want to be added to the SunFlash alias, please contact the systems engineers at your local Sun office and/or send mail to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. "All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region." 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