SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. and Tandem Computers Inc. demonstrated the world’s largest Microsoft® Windows NT® Server network operating system-based system linking 64 Intel Pentium Pro processors in a cluster using Tandem’s ServerNet Ôinterconnect technology. The system managed a 2 terabyte database with a 30-billion row table that was based on Dayton-Hudson’s data warehouse, which manages retail outlets such as Target and Mervyn’s stores.
In the past, enterprise customers were tied to expensive-to-maintain legacy systems, such as commercial UNIX systems, running on proprietary hardware, to run business-critical operations. Enterprise-class hardware is much less expensive to build for Windows NT Server, because Windows NT Server runs on standard high-volume, lower-cost hardware components. This demonstration shows that Windows NT Server and ServerNet technology will provide enterprise customers with a high-end, mission-critical solution that offers ease of use and manageability, resulting in lower cost of ownership.
“Tandem is proud to bring enhanced reliability and scalability to Windows NT Server,” said Roel Pieper, CEO of Tandem. “This 64-processor clustered system clearly demonstrates that Windows NT Server has become a business-critical enterprise platform much sooner than most people thought.”
In addition, enterprise customers will benefit from world-class service and support. Tandem is extending to Windows NT Server and the BackOffice
™family its 22 years of experience providing business-critical service and support to the world’s largest enterprise customers. Tandem’s NonStop® software will also provide enhanced scalability and reliability for the entire BackOffice family.
“Tandem has helped bring Windows NT Server to unprecedented levels of scalability,” said Jim Allchin, senior vice president in the personal and business systems group at Microsoft. “Supporting a database with more than 30 billion rows shatters all previous records and proves that Windows NT Server delivers the performance and scalability required for the most demanding needs of enterprise customers.”
Cluster Operates as a Single Computer
This 64-processor Windows NT Server-based system is a clustered, shared-nothing SMP configuration. The system is built from 16 Tandem S1000 four-processor (200-MHz Pentium Pro processors) servers. The nodes of the system are linked through Tandem’s ServerNet interconnect technology to form a single computing system. The system has 64 processors, 8 gigabytes of main memory and 480 disk drives with 2 terabytes of disk space. ServerNet technology, widely recognized in the industry for interconnecting Windows NT Server clusters, provides a high-speed, low-latency interconnect among all the servers.
Tandem’s S1000 servers incorporate important reliability and availability features from Tandem’s NonStop Himalaya Ò heritage. They are optimized to exploit the advantages of ServerNet technology. Other major vendors are licensed by Tandem to incorporate ServerNet technology into their Windows NT Server-based systems.
For more information, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/ or (http://www.tandem.com/) .
About Tandem
Founded in 1974, Tandem Computers Inc. (NYSE “TDM”) designs and delivers technology solutions that companies rely on to compete in a business world that runs 24 hours a day. A $1.9 billion (U.S.) company headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Tandem has offices, strategic partners and service providers in more than 50 countries.
About Microsoft
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, Windows NT and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Tandem, Himalaya, NonStop, ServerNet and the Tandem logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Tandem Computers Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing information about Tandem, please visit the Tandem home page at (http://www.tandem.com/ ) .To receive product information, call (800) 482-6336 in the United States and Canada. To request information via e-mail, send a message to [email protected]. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Tandem press materials are also available on NEWSdesk International on
the World Wide Web at (http://www.newsdesk.com/)
