---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SMCC Debuts New Multiprocessing Server; Enhances SPARCserver 600mp Series SunFLASH Vol 41 #27 May 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAN FRANCISCO -- May 19, 1992 -- Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) today significantly expanded the SPARCserver(TM) product family in breadth and performance, giving users an improved choice of multiprocessing server solutions to meet their computing needs. Introduced today was the new SPARCserver 10, the lowest-cost RISC/UNIX(R) multiprocessing server on the market. It is particularly well-suited for workgroups, including PC LANs. SMCC also announced a CPU upgrade featuring the high-performance SuperSPARC(TM) chip for the SPARCserver 600MP Series of multiprocessing servers, as well as new versions of these servers that feature the SuperSPARC chip. SuperSPARC effectively doubles the performance ceiling of these systems while maintaining the same range of price points. Both the SPARCserver 10 and SPARCserver 600MP servers employ a modular design that makes possible the industry's easiest and most cost effective upgrade path. To increase server throughput, users can replace existing SPARC(R) modules with higher-performance modules that plug directly into the system board, preserving their investment in the system, memory and peripherals. For example, current SPARCserver 600MP users can upgrade to SuperSPARC simply by exchanging their current SPARC module for a new SuperSPARC module offering twice the performance. Sun(TM) SPARCserver systems are designed to maximize application throughput. They offer an innovative system architecture that balances a fast CPU with superior disk, I/O, memory and bus subsystems. All SPARCserver systems are binary compatible, meaning that they can run the same software. SPARCserver 10 Brings Multiprocessing to the Workgroup The new SPARCserver 10 brings many of the features found in high-end multiprocessing servers to a low-cost desktop package, resulting in a new level of performance and flexibility for users looking for an entry-level server. SMCC estimates that this new server will deliver more than 800 NFS(R) operations per second in a single-processor configuration and more than 200 transactions per second (tps) in a four-processor configuration, thus achieving better overall performance than competing systems costing three to four times more. Prices for the new server begin at $16,995 (U.S. list), making it a very cost-effective file, application, compute or database server for the workgroup. In addition, the SPARCserver 10 introduces a compact new version of the popular desktop "pizza box" enclosure. By lowering the bottom of the pizza box a few millimeters and stacking MBus and SBus expansion slots, SMCC engineers have given users a more powerful desktop server with the same footprint as the SPARCserver 2 but up to five times the applications throughput, five times the memory capacity, double the internal disk storage and 25 percent more expansion capacity. The system houses two MBus slots into which users can plug SPARC modules (for up to four CPUs) containing the SuperSPARC chip recently introduced by Texas Instruments. SuperSPARC is a BiCMOS, superscalar CPU that executes up to three instructions in each clock cycle, maximizing application performance. SMCC has also added a 1-megabyte external memory cache, called SuperCache(TM), to the system's new SuperSPARC CPU, which will make appplications run even faster. The SPARCserver 10 is available in four versions: Model 30 Model 41 Model 52 Model 54 No. of Processors 1 1 2 4 MHz 36 40 45 45 tps (est.) 100 120 180 220 NFS ops./sec. 700+ 800+ - - SPECint92* 44.2 52.6 - - SPECfp92* 52.9 64.7 - - SPECthruput89** (est.) - - 109 218 MIPS 86.1 96.2 200+ 400+ * SPEC 92 ratings are measured on a different scale than SPEC 89 ratings and thus are not comparable. ** SPECthruput ratings are a measurement of computing speed for multiprocessing systems. To upgrade to multiple CPUs and new, faster microprocessors -- including the 50-MHz SuperSPARC chip from Texas Instruments when it is available in volume -- users can simply pull out the SPARC module and replace it with a new one. The SPARCserver 10 also offers exceptional expandability. The system can be expanded to contain 512 megabytes of memory and 26 gigabytes of SCSI mass storage. Disk I/O throughput can be increased by adding up to five 10-megabyte/second SCSI-2 bus controllers. In addition, the system features four SBus expansion slots, built-in Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) capabilities, Ethernet, two serial ports and a programmable parallel port. Existing applications among the 4,000 SPARC hardware and software solutions will run on the new server without modification. The SPARCserver 10 runs SunSoft's Solaris(R) 1.1 operating environment. Later this fall, the SPARCserver 10 will run Solaris 2.0, which provides support for symmetric multiprocessing and will feature a multithreaded kernel. The Solaris 2.0 environment is based on the UNIX standard, System V Release 4 (SVR4). The SPARCserver 10 will be especially attractive to organizations that need to connect their PC LANS into the enterprise network, but need more power and functionality than a PC server offers. A SPARCserver 10 can connect to UNIX, IBM SNA or DECnet environments; using NetWare(R) SunLink(R), a new software product from Sun Microsystems' SunSelect business unit, it can connect to Novell NetWare PC LANs. NetWare PC users can then access data from these networks via the SPARCserver 10 and share resources such as printers with Sun(TM) networks. The SPARCserver 10 is a superior application server for NetWare clients, offering better performance, a more robust application environment and a better development platform than a PC server. High-Performance CPU, System Enhancements for SPARCserver 600MP Series Introduced in September 1991, SPARCserver 600MP systems are the fastest-selling UNIX multiprocessing servers on the market: more than 5,200 systems have been installed within the last six months. Today, SMCC announced the availability of the first SPARC module upgrades for these servers containing the SuperSPARC chip and a 1-megabyte SuperCache external cache. Current SPARCserver 600MP users can easily upgrade to the higher performance of SuperSPARC simply by swapping SPARC modules; the price of a SuperSPARC upgrade is $6,000 (U.S. list). Prices begin at $47,000 (U.S. list) for the SPARCserver 600MP Series with SuperSPARC, making these servers the least expensive such systems available today when compared with similarly configured mid-range systems. With a single SuperSPARC processor, Sun estimates that these systems can achieve 130 tps and more than 1,000 NFS operations per second; when configured with four processors, they can achieve more than 250 tps. Each system in the SPARCserver 600MP Series (SPARCserver 630MP, SPARCserver 670MP, SPARCserver 690MP) is available with SuperSPARC in three versions: Model 41 Model 52 Model 54 No. of Processors 1 2 4 MHz 40 45 45 tps (est.) 130 200 250+ NFS ops./sec. 1,000+ - - SPECint92 52.6 - - SPECfp92 64.7 - - SPECthruput89 (est.) - 109 218 MIPS 96.2 200+ 400+ SPARCserver 600MP systems with SuperSPARC upgrades run Solaris 1.1, ensuring that customers can continue to run their current applications unmodified. Later this year, these systems will run the Solaris 2.0 environment. The SPARCserver 10 is being submitted for SCD compliance. Other enhancements to the SPARCserver 600MP Series are support for 10-megabyte/second SCSI-2 host adaptors, increasing the speed with which the systems can access data from disks, and new ECC memory that allows users to increase memory up to 1 gigabyte using 16-megabyte single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). SMCC continues to offer the lowest pricing on disk and memory of any vendor, making it cost-effective for users to expand their systems. In addition, SPARCserver 600MP systems now offer enhanced backup with new 5-gigabyte 8mm tape drives that not only double capacity but also double the speed at which backup occurs. For example, on the SPARCserver 690MP, these new tape drives provide unattended backup capability for as much as 25 gigabytes at a time. Availability The uniprocessor models of the SPARCserver 10 and the SPARCserver 600MP system with SuperSPARC will be available with Solaris 1.1 in the third quarter of 1992. The SPARCserver 10/Model 52 will be available in the fourth quarter of 1992. These systems -- including the two-processor model -- will be shipped with a future version of Solaris 2.0 in the fourth quarter of 1992. The SPARCserver 10/Model 54 will be available in the first quarter of 1993. SuperSPARC upgrades for existing SPARCserver 600MP systems will be available in the third quarter of 1992. Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of client-server computing solutions, which feature networked workstations and servers that store, process and distribute information. Sun Microsystems, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a multibillion-dollar corporation doing business worldwide. ### Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, NFS, SuperCache, SunSoft, Solaris, SunLink and SunSelect are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCserver is licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. SuperSPARC is licensed to Texas Instruments, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. For reader inquiries, telephone 1-800-821-4643. PR contact: Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. Carol Sacks (415) 336-0521 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au 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.