IBM Unveils New SMP PC Servers, Enhances Netfinity Systems Management Tool, Offers New Training, Tech Support Programs

SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 1995--Enhancing its line of client/server products and offerings to meet the ever-expanding network computing needs of its customers, IBM today introduced a full range of PC Servers, enhancements and services featuring the most advanced technology, including symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) capabilities. These IBM PC Servers support leading network operating systems including IBM OS/2(a), IBM OS/2 LAN Server(a), Novell NetWare(b), SCO UNIX(b) and Microsoft Windows NT(b).

In addition to these powerful new hardware offerings, IBM also announced enhancements to its popular NetFinity(a) systems management software - - a cost-effective client/server solution for managing both networked and non-networked systems.

These new IBM PC Servers range from the versatile PC Server 320 models, with multiprocessor upgradeability for entry enterprise customers, to the IBM PC Server 720, the high-performance SMP superserver. In addition, NetFinity(a) 2.01, a member of the SystemView(a) family, has been enhanced to support Desktop Management Interface (DMI) and Novell's NetWare Management Services standards.

"Drawing on IBM's expertise and expansive multiprocessing heritage, we are offering our customers a full complement of leading-edge PC Server technology products and services, " said Angelica Horaitis, director of worldwide marketing, IBM PC Servers. "We are giving our customers the benefit of technology experience from developers who worked in the mainframe area and are now applying their expertise to the PC Server business."

IBM also introduced TechConnect, a training and certification program for qualified network professionals, and IBM PC Server Start Up Support, a total systems support package for all PC Server customers.

A Broad Range of Technology and Bus Offerings

Enhancing its line of client/server products and offerings to meet the ever-expanding networked computing needs of its customers, IBM offers a wide variety of technology, such as advanced bus architectures - - including Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) with Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) or PCI with Micro Channel(a) - - and SMP capabilities. SMP, based on Corollary, Inc.'s 400 MB/second C-bus(b) II, optimizes the capabilities of a multiprocessor computer by distributing application processes or threads among several processors, increasing performance and mission-critical reliability. Additional Product Highlights

IBM PC Server 320 (four models) - a powerful extension to the popular PC Server 300 line. Providing customers with data integrity, ease of installation and systems asset management, the PC Server 320 is designed for independent LANs and/or department workgroups with 50 to 400 users who need to connect clients using entry or mid-range database applications.

IBM PC Server 720 superserver (four models) -- the flagship of the IBM PC Server line. The PC Server 720 is upgradeable to six-way SMP, supported by one gigabyte of random access memory. An SMP bus allows for system scalability as the customer adds processors when needed. It also supports both Micro Channel(a) and PCI bus architectures.

NetFinity enhancements - - NetFinity Manager for Windows can now integrate with Novell's NetWare Management System (NMS), enabling users to directly manage all of NetFinity's services on remote workstations or servers. The NetFinity integration with NMS allows users to exchange information with the NMS database. Another enhancement to NetFinity product is support for the Desktop Management Interface (DMI), an industry standard for how management software accesses and configures PCs, hardware components and software. The NetFinity System Information Tool has been enhanced to provide PC system data conforming to the DMI specification, enabling any DMI-based management application to dynamically access valuable system configuration data. Servers Made Simple

Stressing upgradeability and expandability, IBM is providing customers with a complete range of PC Server offerings. These new products and solutions support a broad range of business applications from client/server suppliers, including IBM, The Santa Cruz Operation(b), Inc - - a leading provider of multiuser UNIX(b) system servers and hosts - - and SAP AG(b) - - a German supplier of integrated client/server business applications.

"With these initiatives, IBM continues to provide customers with a greater breadth of choices supported by the IBM PC Server platform," said Michael Coleman, general manager, PC Servers. "Working with companies such as The Santa Cruz Operation and SAP AG, as well as IBM's own OS/2 software team, will allow us to provide customers with solutions that are flexible and expandable to fit networking requirements."

IBM will ship the new PC Servers with its OS/2 for SMP operating system as part of ServerGuide 2.0(a), providing the performance benefits of scalable SMP processing to existing OS/2 and Windows applications.

"This member of the OS/2 family of products, combined with IBM's new SMP PC Servers, allows users to get exciting performance benefits not only for their OS/2 applications, but also for DOS and Windows applications," said John Soyring, director of strategic relations, for IBM's Personal Software Products division.

In addition, the IBM PC Server division and iXOS, a German software firm, have completed the certification process for SAP's R/3(b) for Microsoft Windows NT to support PC Servers. This certification, which will initially support the PC Server 500 platform, will be upgraded to include the IBM PC Server 720 equipped with SMP.

"This announcement confirms SAP's strong on-going partnership with IBM," said Paul Wahl, marketing director, of SAP AG. Other major IBM platforms that support SAP's R/3(b) include IBM RISC System/6000(a) and IBM Scalable POWERparallel Systems 2 (SP2)(a).

IBM also announced a worldwide OEM distribution agreement and business partnership with The Santa Cruz Operation(b) that will enable IBM to sell and support SCO(b)Open Server(b) software products on IBM PC Server hardware platforms.

"The Santa Cruz Operation is recognized as one of the leaders in UNIX server software, and the leader in UNIX systems for Intel processor-based computers," said Coleman. "This business partnership gives us the ability to move beyond an engineering relationship and deliver the UNIX-on-Intel server solutions to our customers."

Service and Support

Each IBM PC Server offering comes with a three-year international warranty. IBM also offers its customers telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to its new PC Server Start Up Support, IBM provides usage and service assistance through HelpWare(a), and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The HelpCenter number, in the U.S., is 1-800-772-2227. Product Availability and Pricing

Two non-array models of the PC Server 320 will be available later this month. Array models of the PC Server 320 will be available in late June. The PC Server 720 will be available in July. Enhancements to the NetFinity product will be available immediately in the United States through the IBM Bulletin Board System (IBMPC BBS at (919 517-0001) and worldwide through the Internet at our Web site at http://www.pc.IBM.com server or anonymous FTP at ftp.pcco.ibm.com.

Prices start at $4,799 for the IBM PC Server 320 via IBM PC Direct(a). Dealers prices may vary. -0-

(a) Trademark or registered trademark of the International Business Machines Corporation

(b) Trademark or registered trademark of their respective companies