DIGITAL Delivers Expanded Support for Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition

Enhances the Industry’s Most Scalable Line of Servers for Windows NT Server

MAYNARD, Mass., -- September 16, 1997 -- Digital Equipment Corporation today announced support for Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition across its entire range of Prioris Servers and AlphaServer systems. By offering support for both x86 and Alpha-based servers, Digital provides customers with the industry’s most scalable solutions for Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition.

"Digital’s support of Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition provides customers with the broadest range of server choices, from single processor Pentium Pro-based Prioris servers to the world’s fastest Windows NT Server platform, the AlphaServer8400," said Duane Dickhut, vice president, Windows NT Server Business Unit, Digital Equipment Corporation. "These servers will utilize all the components of Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, including Microsoft Cluster Server, to meet the business-critical computing needs of enterprise customers."

Digital servers are positioned to fully exploit the current and future capabilities of Windows NT Server in the enterprise environment. The x86-based Prioris ZX6200 offers support for the extended memory feature (four Gigabyte Memory Tuning) of Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, with a maximum of up to 4GB of physical memory. The Digital AlphaServer line supports extended memory capabilities of up to 8GB on the mid-range AlphaServer 4100 server, and up to 28GB on the top-of-the line AlphaServer 8400, using the unique 64-bit addressing capability of the Alpha processor. Customers will benefit from the Very Large Memory (VLM) capabilities of the AlphaServer systems as VLM support becomes available in the Windows NT Server 5.0 release. VLM support brings customers significant performance and scalability advantages without requiring changes to their applications or upgrading their operating systems.

Enhanced Cluster Support

Digital, the pioneer in clustering technology, believes reliable clusters are the key to the evolution of the Windows NT systems in the enterprise. Clustering solutions enable customers to increase levels of system availability, provide enhanced data and application scalability, and deliver increased computing performance in a cost-effective manner.

For customers using the Microsoft Cluster Server component of Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, Microsoft and Digital have worked together to validate two server and storage configurations:

• Digital Prioris ZX6200 SMP server, StorageWORKS RA310 RAID Storage Array for shared cluster storage, the Adaptec 2944W SCSI controllers to connect the servers to the Storage Array, and Digital DE450 Network card for the private network between the two servers.

• Digital AlphaServer4100, StorageWORKS RA450 RAID Storage Array for shared cluster storage, the Digital KZPSA SCSI controllers to connect the servers to the Storage Array, and Digital DE500 Network card for the private network between the two servers.

To make it easier for customers to purchase and configure clusters based on Microsoft Cluster Server, Digital is offering Cluster Kits for Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition. Available for Prioris servers and AlphaServer systems, these Cluster Kits include all necessary components -- external storage array, cabling, adapters, and terminators – for customers to create a validated Microsoft Cluster Server environment. Customers can choose the servers and disks they want to use in their RAID Storage Array and combine the hardware with Cluster Kits for Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition to easily develop the correct cluster configuration.

To simplify systems management, Digital is also providing a Microsoft Cluster Server agent for ServerWORKS. ServerWORKS, which is included at no charge with all Digital servers running Windows NT, delivers comprehensive SNMP management of Digital servers and provides an agent to manage nodes in a Microsoft Cluster Server configuration.

ServerWORKS Manager allows the system manager to manage and view server nodes and shared storage devices in a Microsoft Cluster Server cluster. The Microsoft Cluster Server agent provides standards-based SNMP alarming on cluster fail-over or fail-back. The administrator can then be paged, notified by mail message, or launch a script to invoke corrective action. This agent is currently downloadable via the World Wide Web for Digital customers and partners, and will be included in ServerWORKS’ release planned for later this year, along with the other ServerWORKS Manager agents.

Digital’s Strategy for Clusters on Windows NT

Digital’s cluster strategy for Windows NT is comprised of four key components, designed to help customers implement the solution that best meets their requirements. The components include:

• Support for Microsoft’s Windows NT 4.0 Server Enterprise Edition and Microsoft Cluster Server.

• Continued support for Digital Clusters for Windows NT. Digital will also provide a Migration Wizard utility to enable the easy migration from Digital Clusters for Windows NT to the Microsoft Cluster Server, if and when the customer chooses to migrate. Digital will protect the customer’s investment during this migration.

• Added-value software for Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition. Utilizing the standard Microsoft Cluster Server technology and APIs, Digital will offer layered software to expand the capabilities of Windows NT 4.0 Server Enterprise Edition in such areas as system management, high-speed cluster and storage interconnects, high-performance transaction processing, scalable data storage and user support, and the Disaster Tolerant capabilities for Windows NT systems. These new software technologies will debut in 1998.

• Enterprise Clusters for Windows NT. Fully compatible with the Microsoft Cluster Server, Digital’s enterprise clusters for Windows NT will provide outstanding application availability, scalability and system management. Enterprise Cluster technology will debut in 1998.

Digital Equipment Corporation, recognized for product and service excellence, is a leading supplier of high-performance, Web-based computing solutions which help enterprises compete in the global marketplace. Digital gives its customers a winning Internet advantage through a comprehensive portfolio of Internet solutions based on award-winning systems, advanced networking infrastructure, innovative software, and industry applications – including those from its business partners. The expertise and experience of Digital employees help customers plan, design, implement, manage and support Internet solutions in countries throughout the world. For the latest company information, visit Digital on the World Wide Web at http://www.digital.com