Google Deploys VMware Software

Software Used for Multi-Platform Development, Application Access

Palo Alto, Calif., March 13, 2000 -- VMware, Inc. today announced that Google, Inc., one of the fastest growing search destination sites on the World Wide Web, has decided to deploy VMware software to develop for multi-platform environments and to access applications on multiple operating systems.

Google, recipient of PC Magazine's 1999 Technical Excellence award in Web applications and Time Magazine's Best Cybertech of 1999 award, focuses exclusively on delivering highly relevant search results. Through innovative advances in search technology, Google helps its users find information on the Web with unprecedented levels of ease, speed, and accuracy. Google currently provides its search services at www.google.com, and through a variety of customers that license Google for Web and site search functionality on their sites.

VMware's virtual machine technology unbinds the conventional ties between the operating system and the hardware, enabling increased flexibility, productivity, and security in computing. VMware's desktop software, which is the first incarnation of this technology, enables a single computer to run multiple operating systems concurrently without having to reboot or partition the hard drive.

Because Web users do not all employ the same browsers and operating systems, Google's team needs to develop and test its Web site across a wide range of platforms and browsers. This type of comprehensive testing ensures that their interface will work equally well for a Netscape user running on Linux and for a Microsoft Internet Explorer user running on Windows 95.

Before deploying VMware's software, Google developers had to use a bank of test computers, each dedicated to running a specific operating system and browser combination. Google then installed VMware and configured virtual machines with the same operating system and browser combinations as the bank of test computers had. Since multiple virtual machines can run on one machine, Google developers were able to perform the same tests as before without ever having to leave their desks.

Google also uses VMware to access both the Linux and Windows applications they need. According to Google co-founder and president, Sergey Brin, "Working at a hot Internet start-up today, access to both Linux and Windows is a must, since there are hundreds of great applications and tools for both. VMware lets me use both Windows and Linux on one computer at the same time."

VMware Vice President of Marketing Dave Michaud notes, "This is a great example of how eBusiness development teams can benefit from VMware. Google has been able to increase productivity and gain the flexibility to access the applications they need."

Brin stresses that the ease of use and reliability of VMware are keys to its success at Google. "The VMware window on my Linux desktop looks and functions exactly like a Windows 98 machine. VMware is based upon very impressive technology, but the most impressive thing about it is that it really works."

About VMware

VMware is the originator of virtual machine applications for PCs running different flavors of Linux, Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems. The company's roster of customers includes developers, corporate IT professionals, power users, government agencies, colleges and universities and computer enthusiasts worldwide. The software was awarded the "Innovation Award 1999" by Australian Personal Computer Magazine. VMware is a privately held company based in Palo Alto, California.For more information, please visit the web site at http://www.vmware.com.

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VMware is the trademark of VMware, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and names mentioned herein are the property of their respective holders.