---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SMCC UNVEILS NEW SPARCSERVER PACKAGES AND LOWERS PRICING SunFLASH Vol 47 #1 November 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- October 27, 1992 -- Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. (SMCC) today unveiled the highest-capacity, lowest-cost data center server package ever available from the company and announced that it has reduced prices from 7 to 17 percent on its popular SPARCserver(TM) 600MP Series of multiprocessor servers. Now, users have a broader choice of systems and very economical solutions for applications that require data center levels of capacity and performance. In addition, SMCC unveiled new high-performance disk storage solutions for its servers that are less than half the price of comparable products from major UNIX(R) server manufacturers. Highest-Capacity SPARCserver SMCC is offering several configurations of its new SPARCserver 690MP data center package that makes "rightsizing" even more affordable for corporate users. This low-cost data center package features 10-megabyte-per-second, 2.1-gigabyte differential SCSI-2 disks, which provide improved I/O throughput, double the storage capacity and more than two times the storage density per data center cabinet. With this new SPARCserver 690MP package, SMCC delivers up to 25-gigabyte disk capacity and 25-gigabyte unattended backup capability in a single compact cabinet. The system's small footprint is a major advantage in space-constrained data center facilities, and it also offers simplified system installation and management. The new 690MP package also extends total disk storage capacity to more than 100 gigabytes, double the disk capacity of previous packages. SMCC is now offering a 7 to 17 percent savings on the current line of SPARCserver 670MP and 690MP computers, providing an even better value for the industry's leading multiprocessor servers. For example, the entry-level configuration of the SPARCserver 670MP has been reduced by $10,000, to a new price of $50,000. Industry's Leading MP Servers With more than 7,800 units shipped in less than a year, the SPARCserver 600MP family of computers leads the industry, with the most UNIX multiprocessor servers installed of any vendor, according to market research firm InfoCorp. With its new packages and reduced pricing, SMCC is continuing its efforts to offer the most attractive rightsizing solution for users moving from mainframes to UNIX client-server environments. An important part of SMCC's total solution is strategic relationships with key third-party vendors, who offer server software products for SPARCserver systems that simplify the migration from proprietary to UNIX client-server environments. For example, there are now several popular system administration tools available or in development for the Sun platform, which include the Tivoli Management Environment (TME) from Tivoli Systems and CA-UNICENTER from Computer Associates. Legent Corp. and SMCC announced today that they have signed an agreement to port Legent's system management tools to Sun SPARCservers and SPARCstations(TM). In addition, there are DB2 and Customer Information Control System (CICS) emulators, such as VIS/TP from VISystems and UniKix from Integris. Also announced today was an agreement between SMCC and Universal Software, which provides IBM System 36 emulation. Universal will port its Open/36 software onto the Sun platform. All the leading relational database products also are available on SPARCserver systems. In fact, Oracle Corp. announced today that it has selected the Sun platform as its primary development platform for its next-generation RDBMS software products. Combined with SPARCserver price reductions and new packages, these tools make rightsizing on Sun even more attractive to commercial customers. "Not only has the SPARCserver 600MP Series been an outstanding seller, but it is appealing to new users," said Doug Kaewert, director of server product marketing. "Our data indicates that for the last quarter, 30 percent of our SPARCserver 600MP sales came from new accounts." New SPARCserver Storage Solutions SMCC's new differential SCSI-2 disks also will be available for its SPARCserver 630MP, 670MP and SPARCserver 10 systems, providing a 50 percent increase in total disk capacity for these systems, to more than 41 gigabytes. The new 2.1-gigabyte disk in deskside expansion pedestals offers 62 percent more capacity per disk at three-quarters the price per megabyte of previous-generation SCSI drives. In addition, SMCC customers with installed disk pedestals can easily add these new disks to their existing systems, increasing system throughput and capacity while protecting their total investment. These new disk storage solutions are priced very aggressively. For example, a single 2.1-gigabyte disk that sells for $4,400 is more than 40 percent lower in cost per megabyte than SMCC's 1.3-gigabyte IPI disk, and is half the price per megabyte of comparable products from competitive system vendors. Pricing; Availability These new prices took effect on October 13. Shipment of the new SPARCserver 690MP packages (Models 120, 140 and 41) will begin at the end of the month. The new configurations of the 690MP are: * 690MP Model 120 with two processors, 64 megabytes of memory, 4.2 gigabytes of disk and a SunCD(TM) CM-ROM -- $70,000 * 690MP Model 41 with one SuperSPARC(TM) processor, 64 megabytes of memory, 4.2 gigabytes of disk and a SunCD CD-ROM -- $76,000 * 690MP Model 52 with two SuperSPARC processors, 128 megabytes of memory, 8.4 gigabytes of disk, a SunCD CD-ROM and 5-gigabyte tape drive -- $101,500. * 690MP Model 54 with four SuperSPARC processors, 128 megabytes of memory, 8.4 gigabytes of disk, a SunCD CD-ROM and 5-gigabyte tape drive -- $119,500. Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, Inc., is the world's leading supplier of open client-server computing solutions. Sun Microsystems, Inc. has its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Press Contact Laura Shuldener at Hi-Tech Communications at (415) 904-7000. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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. TRACE: To: sunflash@suntri Errors-to: owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com