REDMOND, Wash., July 2, 1996 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Migrating From Banyan® VINES® to Microsoft® BackOffice
™
, a new service designed to help large companies migrate their computing infrastructure from Banyan Systems’ VINES network operating system, including Banyan StreetTalk
™and Intelligent Messaging, to the Microsoft Windows NT® Server network operating system. The new offering extends Microsoft’s Service Advantage portfolio of technical services for enterprise customers.
By transitioning network infrastructures from Banyan VINES to Windows NT Server, enterprise customers can take advantage of the Microsoft BackOffice family of integrated server applications – including Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet Information Server – as well as more than 1,500 powerful business applications developed by industry partners for Windows NT Server. Windows NT Server is the operating environment of choice among Fortune 1,000 organizations deploying strategic business applications, including Internet and intranet applications, according to a market survey of 700 computing sites conducted by Sentry Market Research based in Westboro, Mass.
“Last year, our customers began asking us for a clear, well-defined path for migrating their Banyan environments to the Microsoft BackOffice family,”
said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the desktop and business systems division at Microsoft and the architect of Banyan’s StreetTalk technology.
“This new service delivers that solution. I strongly believe that now is the time for customers to begin this migration and take immediate advantage of the next-generation technology and integrated platform offered by Microsoft today.”
Customers Take Advantage of Microsoft Service
The Equitable Life Assurance Society in New York is one company migrating from a Banyan legacy system to Microsoft BackOffice.
“We have nearly 2,000 users relying on our Banyan network today, and our goal is to have every one of these users running on Microsoft Windows NT Server and Microsoft Exchange Server by the end of 1996,”
said Leon Billis, chief information officer at Equitable.
“We’re currently working with Microsoft Consulting Services and FCP Technologies, now ENTEX Information Services, to use the MCS migration tools as part of our migration plan. Why are we moving? We believe that Microsoft technology will allow us to stay competitive and provide the best service to our customers.”
Banyan-to-BackOffice Migration Service
Migrating From Banyan VINES to Microsoft BackOffice is part of the Microsoft Service Advantage family of Technology Consulting Blueprints, a set of predefined consulting projects developed around specific enterprise technology needs, such as Internet and intranet application planning. The Banyan-to-BackOffice migration service helps Banyan VINES customers plan, test, pilot and deploy Windows NT-based network infrastructures and integrated Microsoft BackOffice server applications.
The new service also features a set of automated tools used by the consultants to facilitate the migration of Banyan VINES objects – such as user names, groups, lists, files and security settings – to the Microsoft Windows NT Server environment. These tools also include a utility that helps move Banyan Intelligent Messaging users and their electronic-mail files to Microsoft Exchange Server, further minimizing disruption to enterprise customers’ daily operations during the migration process.
Microsoft Solution Providers including Electronic Data Systems Corp., FCP Technologies (now ENTEX Information Services), Trellis Network Services Inc., Vanstar Corp. and Wang Laboratories Inc. worked with Microsoft to test the Banyan-to-BackOffice migration service and each Solution Provider has been trained by MCS to use the service to efficiently transition Banyan VINES customers to Microsoft BackOffice. Effective immediately, customers can contract with any of these companies or with Microsoft Consulting Services for the migration service. Prices will vary according to customer environment and the specific services requested.
“Corporate migrations of this scale require experienced planning and execution,”
said Bruce Bancroft, vice president of operations at Princeton, N.J.-based Trellis Network Services.
“Based on our collaboration with Microsoft Consulting Services, we are now able to provide customers expertise in every stage of their migration from Banyan to Microsoft solutions. We are experiencing growing demand among Fortune 1,000 customers for this migration service, and we also are using the Microsoft service approach and migration tools to transition our own internal systems from Banyan StreetTalk and Intelligent Messaging to Windows NT Server and Microsoft Exchange Server.”
Microsoft Consulting Services is available to assist other Microsoft Solution Providers to deliver the Banyan-to-BackOffice migration service to customers.
“More and more of our Banyan customers are asking for help in migrating to Microsoft BackOffice,”
said Peter Cowie, CEO of Charter Systems, a Microsoft Solution Provider.
“We enjoy a strong relationship with Microsoft Consulting Services and consider this migration service another opportunity to work together to solve a critical challenge for Charter’s customers.”
About Microsoft Service Advantage
Microsoft Service Advantage delivers the full range of services and support that large organizations need to successfully implement mission-critical systems built with Microsoft products. Microsoft Service Advantage combines direct services from Microsoft with those from established enterprise service partners, providing a total solution that delivers real business advantage.
Microsoft’s direct services include Custom Consulting, a variety of Technology Consulting Blueprints, Enterprise Program Manager, Premier and Premier Global support, and the Microsoft Solutions Framework methodology and training, all delivered by Microsoft technical professionals worldwide. Service providers range from the largest implementation experts in a worldwide network of Microsoft Solution Providers, Authorized Support Centers and recognized global enterprise vendors.
For additional information on the Banyan-to-BackOffice migration service or any other services from Microsoft, customers can call their local Microsoft sales offices or Microsoft headquarters at (800) 426-9400.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, BackOffice and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Banyan and VINES are registered trademarks and StreetTalk is a trademark of Banyan Systems Inc.
