EDITORIAL CONTACTS: PRCS4700512 Terri Powell (408) 447-1673 Brenda Opine (408) 447-1386 HP INTRODUCES FIVE NEW HP 3000 BUSINESS SERVERS THAT VIRTUALLY DOUBLE PERFORMANCE OF PREVIOUS MIDRANGE MODELS Servers Designed with the Power to Run Next-generation Applications and Ideal for Consolidating Existing Systems onto One Compact Midrange Deskside Server PALO ALTO, Calif., March 6, 1994 -- Hewlett-Packard Company today introduced five new HP 3000 midrange servers that are based on HP's PA-7200 microprocessor technology and virtually double the performance of previous models. The new servers provide the power and performance needed for customers who want to run next-generation applications or who want to consolidate multiple low-end or midrange systems onto one deskside server. The HP 3000 9X9KS Series servers include the 939KS Series, which run at 80MHz, and the 959KS Series, which run at 100MHz and support up to 4-way symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). These servers are designed to handle the large and complex data needs of software applications that require significant processing power and a balanced high-performance memory subsystem. In addition, the servers are designed to support next-generation PA-RISC(1) processors, offering customers the investment protection they need to grow into the future. "As next-generation applications become more complex, they place incredible demands on computing power," said Olivier J. Helleboid, general manager of HP's Commercial Systems Division. "Our customers need a reliable, high-performance server that can fully support their business-critical application needs today and into the future. HP's 9X9KS servers are designed specifically to meet those needs, providing our customers with the scaleable performance they need to protect their investment and the high performance they need to combine or add next-generation applications within their environment." Servers Designed to Run Next-generation Applications Applications such as FileNet Corporation's WorkFlo Business System software now is available on the HP 3000 platform. Designed for departmental or enterprisewide environments, the HP 3000 9x9KS servers enable customers to implement document-imaging and workflow applications rapidly as they automate business processes, all of which result in significantly reduced operating costs and improved productivity. "The new HP 3000 server line is an ideal platform for FileNet software," said Jordan Libit, vice president of marketing at FileNet. "The 9x9KS Series client/server systems offer scalability and performance that allow our customers to improve customer service and increase profitability dramatically." FileNet also plans to offer its FileNet:WorkGroup product to HP 3000 users later this year. FileNet:WorkGroup is designed for customers who require midrange, lower-cost imaging and workflow solutions at the departmental or workgroup level . Servers Ideal for System Consolidation The increased performance and overall connectivity inherent in the HP 3000 9x9KS midrange line make these servers ideal for MIS organizations that want to consolidate multiple low-end or midrange systems into one compact, integrated package. For example, one 9x9KS/200 can match the combined performance of five HP 3000 Series 70s, three Series 922s and one Series 960 -- at a fraction of the annual support cost. Consolidations in any environment require proven reliability and high levels of system- and data-availability and, like other HP 3000 servers, the 9X9KS Series offers both. 3M Unitek recently purchased a 959KS/300 to consolidate a Series 950 and a Series 70. "We purchased the 9x9KS server to achieve two goals: increased performance and reduced support costs," said Arie Carmelli, systems manager. "The 959/300 gives us more than seven times the performance under the HP 3000 Performance Guarantee Program and it features lower cost-of-ownership than the two systems it's replacing." 3M currently has several HP 3000 systems in operation today. HP 3000 9X9KS Series Features The base 9X9KS is a four-slot server that features a new design that has two double-high and two single-high I/O slots. For higher configuration needs, an eight-slot server featuring four double-high and four single-high I/O slots is available. The new design will remedy slot-waste, which is caused by taking up two single-high slots with a double-high card. Since customers can use single-high and double-high cards in fewer slots, the eight-slot 9X9KS can provide as much configurability as the 12-slot 9X7SX at a significantly lower cost. The 939KS comes standard with 64MB of RAM; the 959KS comes with 128MB of memory. The maximum RAM memory available has been increased by 130 percent to 2GB. Similarly, maximum disk capacity has been increased over the 9x7 Series to 352GB on the 9x9KS Series. Each server is available with a 1GB or 2GB disk drive, an 8GB Digital Data Storage (DDS) tape backup drive and a 650MB CD-ROM drive for future software distribution. The servers run on HP's MPE/iX Release 5.0 operating system, which recently was enhanced with increased ARPA networking standards, including TCP-IP(2), FTP, SNMP(3) Agent, Telnet and BSD Sockets. In addition, to enhance the operating system's already robust system-management capabilities, HP has added HP 3000 Workload Manager -- a collection of utilities that allows system managers to monitor, adjust and synchronize system resources according to specific business requirements and end-user needs. Through the HP 3000 Client/Server Integrators program, HP or selected client/server integrators can help customers design, install and maintain a client/server IT solution that meets their business needs. Customers also can choose to selectively outsource some or all of their network- and systems-management tasks to ease their transition to a client/server environment or to enable them to concentrate on more critical IT business issues and reduce costs over time. U.S. Prices and Availability The HP 3000 9x9KS Series servers are priced from $84,580 to $295,070 and are orderable now with an estimated two- to four-week delivery. The price includes 64MB of memory for the 939KS or 128MB of memory for the 959KS, and a multifunction core I/O card. In addition, the servers now can be preconfigured with a 64-user license for MPE-iX Release 5.0 operating system, ARPA networking services, subsystem software and optional databases, all preloaded and installed. Server Price Series 939KS $ 84,580 80 MHz, 64MB RAM, 1 CPU 64-user license for IMAGE/SQL and MPE/iX Series 959KS/100 116,580 100 MHz, 128MB RAM, 1 CPU 64-user license for IMAGE/SQL and MPE/iX Each additional 100 MHz PA-7200 processor 15,000 I/O slot upgrade to four single-high and 4,000 four double-high slots The recent additions of networking capabilities, POSIX enhancements and client/server applications have added strong client/server functionality to the MPE/iX-based HP 3000 business server, expanding its role beyond that of a reliable, high-performing, easy-to-use computer, to that of a flexible open server as well. The HP 3000 platform was rated No. 1 in overall customer satisfaction by market research firm Datapro Information Services Group in an April 1994 survey rating of 14 major U.S. midrange systems. It scored first in system reliability, price/performance and effectiveness of service. The server's openness was praised in a March 1994 report titled "Open Systems: Is HP's MPE/iX Open?" by computer-industry consulting firm, the Aberdeen Group. HP is the second-largest computer supplier in the United States, with computer-related revenue of $19.6 billion in its 1994 fiscal year. HP has been delivering PA-RISC-based computers since 1986 with high reliability, data integrity, data availability and system availability. Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 98,200 employees and had revenue of $25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year. # # # (1) PA-RISC stands for Precision Architecture reduced-instruction-set computing. (2) TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. (3) SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol.