---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Peripheral Verification Testing Announced At SI SunFLASH Vol 37 #22 January 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- An Independent Testing And Branding Service MENLO PARK, CA -- January 22, 1992 -- Responding to increasing demand from SPARC peripheral vendors, SPARC International (SI) announces a new program called the Peripheral Verification Testing (PVT) Program, an independent testing and branding service. The program tests several classes of peripheral products, such as SCSI Devices, SIMMS, monitors, keyboards, and SBus boards on SPARC Compliant(TM) systems, and will ensure buyers of third party peripheral products that the products are compatible with their SPARC computers. "Working with peripheral vendors in the SPARC community, we came up with a service that establishes technical and marketing relationships between their products," said Robert Duncan, chairman and CEO of SPARC International. "Each could accomplish that independently--this service just does it stronger and faster. What really results from the PVT Program testing efforts is confidence--assurance that products work together as advertised--and that is a positive connection for the buyer of SPARC products with both the system and peripheral vendors." Aurora Technologies is the first member to test an entire product line in the program. Other SI members that have successfully completed the PVT program include Antares Microsystems, Inc., CMS Enhancements, Inc., Hitachi Home Electronics, KeyTronic Corporation, Kingston Technology Corporation, Pioneer Semiconductor Corporation, SunConnect (a business unit of Sun Microsystems, Inc.) and Weitek Corporation. "We are very pleased that SPARC International has put together this independent verification process, as it greatly reduces the evaluation effort that SPARC system users face when selecting quality products to enhance their systems," says Dennis Daudelin, president of Aurora Technologies. "As the original SBus vendor and market leader, Aurora is committed to the SPARC enhancement market and believes in the SPARC International mission. We felt obligated to validate our entire product line, as part of Aurora's continuing effort to provide our customers with the assurance of compatibility across all SPARC Compliant(TM) systems." The following benefits reflect the value of participation in the program. With PVT, SI tests across multiple SPARC Compliant(TM) systems eliminating the need for a lab to be installed at a vendor's location. Ongoing testing on all newly announced SPARC systems with quarterly reports, reduce the need for tracking new product announcements. And upgrade testing on all SPARC systems at the latest SCD level, assures up-to-date verification. To participate, the peripheral manufacturer supplies SPARC International with all the hardware and software to be tested. SI tests using the manufacturers recommended guidelines for operation of the peripheral product. PVT addresses the technical requirements for a peripheral to be tested and connected to a particular SPARC Compliant(TM) platform and tests both the hardware and the software interfaces that have been implemented and advertised by the peripheral vendor. SPARC International has a testing lab that currently holds over 20 SPARC Compliant(TM) workstations. The lab is continuously growing and new systems are added as they become available. This lab is used for peripheral verification, application testing, demonstrations and presentations. SI also offers its members the use of the lab for their own testing and porting efforts. Membership to SI is the first step to access the program. The member then submits a testing agreement and completes the application for testing. The member sends in the product along with any required hardware to SI for testing, SI then tests the product on multiple SPARC Compliant(TM) system platforms. The product is licensed, a report is created and a SPARC Verification(TM) certificate is sent to the vendor. Pricing for this SI service is $1,500 and includes the testing on all SPARC Compliant systems and the SPARC Verification(TM) Trademark License. Re-testing a modified product is $900 and the ongoing and SCD upgrade testing and brand promotion fee is $250 per quarter. Because SI is a non-profit organization, all fees for SI member services are based on cost and are adjusted periodically. Annual dues for an Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) membership in SPARC International are $500. For more information regarding the SPARC Verification Testing process and SPARC International membership information, contact Ernie Carlson, Marketing Director, at 415/321-8692 or email ernie@sparc.com. SPARC International, located in Menlo Park, Calif., was founded in February 1989 as an independent, not-for-profit corporation chartered with directing the evolution of the SPARC microprocessor architecture (developed by Sun Microsystems), developing the market for SPARC-based products, and establishing and testing for compliance to SPARC technology standards. Membership is open to all component, hardware and software vendors as well as individuals committed to promoting SPARC as an open RISC standard. ### SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International based on technology developed by Sun Microsystems. SPARC/OS, SPARC Compatible, SPARC Compliant, SPARC Verified, EmbedSPARC and EuroSPARC are reserved trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCstation, SPARCware, SPARCompilers and SPARCserver 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. SPARC International, Inc. Adrienne Bachleda (415) 321-8692 x238 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net and src.doc.ic.ac.uk 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. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.