HP Announces Windows And UNIX System Integration With CIFS/9000

HP Announces Mission-Critical Windows And UNIX System Integration With New CIFS/9000 For HP-UX

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2000--Hewlett-Packard Company today announced CIFS/9000, the Common Internet File System for HP-UX(1) 11, which provides the first end-to-end UNIX(R) and Windows(R) system interoperability for mixed UNIX and Windows system Internet and intranet environments. CIFS/9000 for HP-UX 11 offers a secure and reliable Windows 2000-ready solution for today's evolving IT infrastructures, which often include heterogeneous environments of UNIX and Windows systems. CIFS/9000 eliminates the most critical barrier to UNIX and Windows system interoperability -- lack of scalable, secure file access -- and offers seamless integration between both environments.

HP-UX 11 provides mission-critical Internet environments with secure high availability, scalability and manageability, significantly reducing deployment complexity, application downtime and security risk. These features enable companies to fully optimize their operating environments for Application Service Providers (ASPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

CIFS/9000 for HP-UX 11 complements the Microsoft(R) Common Internet File System (CIFS), the Microsoft standard for remote file access found in all Windows platforms since Windows 95, and easily integrates Windows into the mission-critical environment provided by HP-UX 11. CIFS/9000 also runs on TCP/IP networking protocols -- the same protocols used in most Internet and intranet environments. Furthermore, with CIFS/9000 being Windows 2000-ready, customers can be assured that they can upgrade their Windows environments without having to reconfigure their IT environments.

"The requirement to share data is a major prerequisite for any form of real collaboration between design teams. Sharing data over the enterprise requires a superior security model; things like Access Control Lists (ACL) and single-user authentication are indispensable," said Gerard de Vreede, Philips Semiconductor Worldwide Infrastructure Technology manager. "The Common Internet File System technology (CIFS/9000) as provided by HP provides the necessary functionality required for secure file sharing over local area networks (LANs) as well as wide area networks (WANs)."

Distributed File Systems

With the CIFS/9000 client and server software, both Windows and HP-UX 11 platforms can be used interchangeably as file servers for each other for the first time. This file system also enables HP-UX 11 systems to have equal access to information stored on Windows 95/98, Windows 2000, Windows NT(R) and HP's UNIX system platforms, thus tightening the interoperability gap between UNIX and Windows by improving file access between both environments.

"One of the primary attractions to deploying CIFS/9000 is the ability to decommission other distributed file systems, leaving IT staff with a less complex environment to manage," said Al Gillen, research manager with IDC's Server Operating Environments and Software Platforms service. "CIFS/9000 will offer shops with Windows platforms and HP-UX installed an alternative distributed file system that works for Windows to HP-UX or HP-UX to HP-UX sharing."

Single-user ID and Password

In addition, CIFS/9000 for HP-UX 11 allows IT managers to use a single-user ID and password for client authentication into UNIX and Windows system environments. This feature greatly simplifies the manageability of the two environments and reduces costs by enabling IT resources to focus on other tasks. By bridging the UNIX and Windows system worlds more closely, CIFS/9000 on HP-UX enables global engineering collaboration, faster time to market and more efficient IT management.

Availability

CIFS/9000 client and server products for HP-UX 11 are slated to be available via the Web at www.software.hp.com in February 2000 and in CD format in March 2000.

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments.

HP has 83,200 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $42.4 billion in its 1999 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

(1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.

Notes to Editors: UNIX is a registered trademark of the Open Group. Microsoft, Windows NT and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. Oracle is a registered U.S. trademark of Oracle Corporation, Redwood City, California.