DIGITAL Introduces the Industry's Broadest
Line of Windows NT Servers

Unified Line of Intel- and Alpha-based Systems for Windows NT Offers Scalability and Price/Performance Unmatched in the Industry

Maynard, Mass., -- January 27, 1998 – Digital Equipment Corp. today announced new server systems, software and services to provide customers with the best solutions for deploying Windows NT across the enterprise. Digital’s new unified line of Intel- and Alpha-based servers for Windows NT delivers the industry’s widest-range of price/performance solutions, and together with new management tools, clustering solutions and services, extends Digital’s leadership in Windows NT computing.

In a move to reinforce its commitment to leadership in Windows NT price/performance, the prices of Digital’s three new Alpha-based Windows NT servers have been reduced by an average of 43 percent over previous similar offerings, giving customers the ability to cost-effectively deploy the world’s most powerful Windows NT server systems.

Digital’s new line includes six new Intel-based servers, ranging from sub-$2,000 entry-level systems to mainframe-class eight-way Pentium Pro servers. These Intel-based servers are complemented by Digital’s new Windows NT-only Alpha-based servers, which extend the DIGITAL Server line with scalability and performance unmatched by other vendors. Among the new systems being announced are four new rack servers designed specifically for industry-standard 19-inch racks.

Utilizing Microsoft’s LoadSim benchmark test, Digital’s unified Windows NT server line offers an array of scalability and performance for Microsoft Exchange ranging from 1,800 users on an entry-level Intel-based server up to 11,500 users on an Alpha-based enterprise solution.

Customers can implement fewer Digital Intel or Alpha-based enterprise-class systems while delivering the same functionality as multiple smaller servers. Consolidating servers in a centralized manageable environment lowers the total cost of ownership for targeted applications.

"Bringing together our Windows NT-based Intel- and Alpha-based servers gives customers the best of both worlds," said Harry Copperman, senior vice president and group executive, Digital Products Division. "Our current 32-bit Intel solutions, ranging from entry-level to enterprise systems, address most customers’ general business requirements. For more demanding, mission-critical applications, as well as the industry’s broadest support for Windows NT 5.0 when it becomes available, Digital’s 64-bit Alpha-based Windows NT Servers are the only solution."

New Product Names, New Systems

Digital’s new single server product line for the Windows NT market combines its Intel- and Alpha-based systems under the common name "DIGITAL Server." The new server family leverages Digital’s brand identity and heritage of delivering customers best-in-class solutions for Windows NT. Digital is continuing to offer its entire line of AlphaServer systems for Digital UNIX, OpenVMS and Windows NT to customers requiring multiple operating system platforms. The Digital Prioris name will no longer be used.

DIGITAL Servers based on the powerful 64-bit Alpha processor, including the DIGITAL Server 3300, 5300 and 7300 families, will now have common options, middleware (system management, operating system installation and solution planning), packaging, terms and conditions and channels consistent with the Intel-based PC server market. Digital’s Alpha-based systems deliver best-in-class performance in compute-intensive multimedia, publishing and telephony applications. The new family of DIGITAL Servers includes:

DIGITAL Server 1000 Series – entry-level/workgroup servers that provide true server performance at a desktop price. The entirely new DIGITAL Server 1200 is based on a single or dual 233MHz Intel Pentium II processor, with prices starting below $2,000.

DIGITAL Server 3000 Series – departmental servers at an entry-level price, available in both pedestal and rack versions. The DIGITAL Server 3100R, 3200R and 3205R are entirely new rack systems, based on 200MHz Intel Pentium Pro, and 266 and 300MHz Intel Pentium II processors, respectively. These systems can be installed in industry-standard 19-inch racks. DIGITAL Server 3100, 3200 and 3205 are new names for the award-winning DIGITAL Prioris MX systems based on single or dual 200MHz Intel Pentium Pro, and 233 and 266MHz Intel Pentium II processors. For application-level performance at a departmental-level price, Digital is also introducing the single-processor DIGITAL Server 3300/3305, 3300R/3305R systems, based on 400 and 500MHz versions of the Alpha processor. These systems can expand to 2GB of main memory, and deliver unmatched price/performance in compute-intensive applications.

DIGITAL Server 5000 Series – application servers with enterprise-class features such as hot-swap bays and redundancy. The DIGITAL Server 5205 is a new system, available with single or dual 300MHz Intel Pentium II processors, while the DIGITAL Server 5100, 5105 and 5200 are the new names for the award-winning DIGITAL Prioris HX, available in 200MHz Intel Pentium Pro, and 266MHz Intel Pentium II configurations. For enterprise-level performance at an application server price, the DIGITAL Server 5300 and 5305 are single-or-dual processor systems incorporating 400 or 533MHz Alpha processors, respectively.

DIGITAL Server 7000 Series – enterprise servers for mission-critical computing. The DIGITAL Server 7100 is a one-to-four 200MHz Intel Pentium Pro processor system with up to 4GB of DIMM memory in a pedestal package. The brand new DIGITAL Server 7100R is the industry-standard rack version. These systems include high-availability features, making them the preferred choice for mission-critical application deployment, particularly in clustered environments. For industry-leading price/performance, the DIGITAL Server 7300/7305/7300R/7305R systems are one-to-four 400 or 533MHz Alpha processor solutions in pedestal and rack configurations. These systems have set consistent performance records for mail/messaging and large database applications.

DIGITAL Server 9000 Series – enterprise "super-servers," offering expansion beyond four processors, as well as very large storage and I/O configurations. The new DIGITAL Server 9100 supports one-to-eight 200 MHz Intel Pentium Pro processors and is available in pedestal and rack configurations. It also offers large I/O expansion (15 PCI/4 EISA slots), and up to 218 GB of internal storage (in pedestal configuration). The new DIGITAL Server 9100R rack model will be available within 30 days.

Digital’s entire family of Intel-based servers is optimized for Windows NT, and is also certified for the industry’s leading Intel server operating systems, including Novell NetWare, SCO Unix and others.

"Ready-to-Go" Windows NT Clusters

Expanding its leadership in Windows NT clustering, Digital is also announcing four Ready-to-Go High-Availability cluster packages. Each of the pre-configured, pre-tested cluster packages includes two DIGITAL Servers and a Digital StorageWorks RAID array mounted in a single industry-standard rack and delivered as a complete self-contained system. All cluster packages are available with either of two software configurations: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Enterprise Edition (including Microsoft Cluster Server), or DIGITAL Clusters for Windows NT with Windows NT 4.0.

• The DIGITAL Server 3100 HA cluster package includes two DIGITAL Server 3100R systems, RAIDarray subsystem and selected services. Available in March 1998. Prices start at $28,400.
• The DIGITAL Server 3300 HA cluster package includes two DIGITAL Server 3300R systems, RAIDarray subsystem and selected services. Available in March 1998. Prices start at $30,800.
• The DIGITAL Server 7100 HA cluster package includes two DIGITAL Server 7100R systems, RAIDarray subsystem and selected services. Available in February 1998. Prices start at $80,761.
• The DIGITAL Server 7305 HA cluster package includes two DIGITAL Server 7300R systems, RAIDarray subsystem and selected services. Available in February 1998. Prices start at $88,368.

With Digital Ready-to-Go High-Availability Cluster Solutions, IT managers and other business professionals can easily implement pre-packaged high-performance Windows NT systems to meet the most demanding business needs.

Value-added Software and Services

Digital’s expansive line of server systems combined with leading software manageability solutions and the industry’s largest number of certified Windows NT engineers enables the company to provide customers with enterprise-ready Windows NT solutions.

A new version of Digital’s network and server management solution, DIGITAL ServerWORKS 3.2, includes support for non-Digital servers, such as Compaq’s, enabling ServerWORKS to discover, identify and manage a heterogeneous environment. New Smart Agents provide improved network performance. ServerWORKS 3.2 also supports management of NTS/E Clustered Systems.

Digital is also announcing Solution Sizer 3.0, which enables software partners and resellers to accurately determine the appropriate server configuration for specific business applications. New Solution Sizer features include support for all new Intel- and Alpha-based DIGITAL Server models, Microsoft Exchange 5.5 support, the ability to size Microsoft SQL Server with Great Plains Software Dynamics C/S+, as well as Microsoft Site Server Enterprise version 2.0/Commerce Server.

DIGITAL Servers and software are supported worldwide by more than 23,000 Digital service professionals, including more than 1,600 Windows NT certified field engineers -- the most at any company -- and over 5,000 support engineers trained on Microsoft products.

Pricing and Availability

All Intel- and Alpha-based systems announced today are available now, with the exception of the DIGITAL Server 9100R which is scheduled to ship in 30 days. All DIGITAL Servers include DIGITAL ServerWORKS software, and are available through Digital’s channel partners. The U.S. prices listed below are based on estimated selling price for entry-level configurations:

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 and/or http://www.newsdesk.com.