Issue No. 77
I. SPARC NEWS
- SPARC INTERNATIONAL WELCOMES NEW CHAIRMAN AND CEO
- SPARC INTERNATIONAL WELCOMES NEW MEMBER TRANSTEC
- SPARC MACHINES WITH PREINSTALLED LINUX GET SUN NOD
- INTEL, SUN IN RIFT OVER INTEL’S ITANIUM CHIP
- TADPOLE-RDI INCREASES SELLING AND FIELD TRAINING CAPABILITIES OF SUN COMPUTING SOFTWARE AND E-COMMERCE VENDORS
- TATUNG UNVEILS NEW LINE OF 450 MHZ ULTRA SPARC, QUAD-PROCESSING SERVERS
- RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC., PROVIDES QUALITY CUSTOM INTEGRATION SERVICES FOR SPARC INDUSTRY FEATURING INTEGRATED TOWER-ULTRA60
- TADPOLE-RDI AIMS TO HELP FORSYTHE’S HEWLETT-PACKARD AND SUN MICROSYSTEMS CUSTOMERS “WORK SMARTER, INVEST BETTER”
- RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC. ANNOUNCES RAVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS
II. SCD CERTIFIED TESTING ADDITIONS IN FEBRUARY
III. SPARCSHOP
I. A. – SPARC INTERNATIONL WELCOMES NEW CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Santa Clara, CA–February 1, 2000–The SPARC International (SI) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Karen Anaya as the new Chairman and CEO.
Ms. Anaya has been with SPARC International for over 10 years, serving as Trademark Coordinator, Testing & Branding Program Administrator, SPARCFLASH Editor & Chief, and Web Editor.
“I look forward to serve our over 100 members of SPARC International, many of whom have been members when I first joined SPARC International over 10 years ago. My goal is to grow our membership list and provide even more information to our membership by leveraging the internet economy” said Ms. Anaya.
Ms. Susan Kunz, SI Board member representing Sun Microsystems said, “Ms. Anaya was the obvious choice for Chairman and CEO. Not only, is she intimately familiar with the operations of SPARC International, but she brings incredible enthusiasm and commitment to the job. This is good for SPARC.”
I. B. – SPARC INERNATIONAL WELCOMES NEW MEMBER TRANSTEC
Wegbeschreibung, Germany–February 8, 2000–Transtec joined SPARC International.
Transtec is one of the leading computers vertreiber direct in Europe. For almost 20 years we have produced quickly, flexible and individually systems, computer and storage solutions. Network components, accessories and periphery devices round off our offer for Windows NT and UNIX. Next to the headquarters in Germany (Wegbeschreibung), we are also in Austria, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, that Netherlands Sweden represent and in Belgium.
For more information visit their web site at
I. C. – SPARC MACHINES WITH PREINSTALLED LINUX GET SUN NOD
Suggested: SPARC systems will ship with Linux — but not Sun brand name
By Dominique Deckmyn and Robin Robinson 02/07/2000 Sun Microsystems Inc. made another cautious move into the Linux market at the LinuxWorld show last week, announcing that Bell Microproducts Inc. in San Jose will start shipping Linux servers based on Sun hardware.
The rack-mountable servers won’t bear the Sun brand name, but instead will feature the “UltraSPARC Driven” logo that already appears on a variety of devices such as printers (but thus far, no computers) that have embedded Sun UltraSPARC processors.
Linux already runs on SPARC systems, but until now there was no officially sanctioned channel to buy systems with Linux preinstalled. The system boards aren’t the same design as those used in Sun’s own servers. Pricing starts at $2,099.
I. D. – INTEL, SUN IN RIFT OVER INTEL’S ITANIUM CHIP
Palm Springs, CA (Reuters) – Intel Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. are in a rift over Sun’s commitment to Intel’s forthcoming Itanium chip.
Earlier on Tuesday, the San Jose Mercury News reported that the two Silicon Valley companies are involved in a quiet dispute over Sun’s commitment to a new version of its Solaris operating system that runs on Intel’s new Itanium processor, which is expected to be launched in the second half of 2000.
“We don’t see the momentum in terms of support,” Paul Otellini, an Intel executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s architecture business group, said at a press briefing, when asked about the Mercury News report.
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Sun is one of several companies developing versions of their operating systems to run on Intel’s new 64-bit processor, called Itanium. Other companies include Microsoft Corp. , International Business Machines Corp. , and several companies working on a 64-bit version of Linux in an effort called the Trillian Group.
The Itanium chip is expected to be initially targeted to high performance servers running Web sites, conducting transactions and other corporate server applications. The chips will also be targeted to the engineering workstation market, all of which are Sun’s key target markets for its own line of servers and workstations that run its Sparc processor and Solaris. Solaris is Sun’s version of the Unix operating system.
“They are just giving it a half-hearted effort,” said Ron Curry, director of marketing for Intel’s microprocessor products group. “They are not out there driving the ISVs (independent software developers), they are not out there promoting Solaris on IA-64 (Intel’s new architecture).”
A Sun Microsystems spokesman said he does not agree with Intel.
“I would disagree with the comments that we are not committed to the program,” said David Harrah, a Sun spokesman. ”That is entirely untrue.” He also note that Solaris was one of the first operating systems to boot up on the first test systems that ran the first Itanium chips last August. “We are pushing ahead on the whole thing.”
Harrah also noted that many software developers are downloading Solaris on Intel from Sun’s Web site, since the company made the source code available to developers. “There are a lot of people out there taking it, looking at it, kicking it around.”
I. E. – TADPOLE-RDI INCREASES SELLING AND FIELD TRAINING CAPABILITIES OF SUN COMPUTING SOFTWARE AND E-COMMERCE VENDORS
With 440MHz UltraSPARC(R)-IIi processors to power VoyagerIIi portable servers, software vendors can demonstrate more compute-intensive enterprise applications and solutions in the field at minimum cost Carlsbad, CA–February 9, 2000–Tadpole-RDI, Inc., today announced a twenty-two percent increase in computing power for its Sun-compatible range of portable VoyagerIIi servers. The upgrade of Tadpole’s portable server range takes effect immediately. Now powered by 440MHz UltraSPARC-IIi processors, Sun computing software vendors equipped with the latest VoyagerIIi specification will be able to demonstrate more compute-intensive enterprise Solaris applications and solutions at customer premises and trade shows at minimum cost. VoyagerIIi servers powered by 360MHz UltraSPARC-IIi processors will continue to be sold by the vendor. “Providing Sun Microsystems customers with increasingly powerful and effective tools that help them work smarter in the field and improve their profitability is a fundamental role of this business,” says Una Richens, vice president of sales and marketing at Tadpole-RDI. She adds: “The addition of the 440MHz UltraSPARC-IIi processor to the VoyagerIIi range is further demonstration of our commitment to Sun’s technologies and Tadpole-RDI’s vision in extending the mobile applications of 64-bit Solaris computing.”
I. F. – TATUNG UNVEILS NEW LINE OF 450 MHZ, QUAD-PROCESSING SERVERS
Milpitas, CA–February 14, 2000–Tatung Science & Technology, Inc. (TSTI), celebrating more than 10 years of commitment to the SPARC(R) systems market, today introduced the COMPstation U4MP Series Model 4450, a high-end server that unleashes new levels of power, supporting up to four 450 MHz UltraSPARC-II processors and 4 GB of memory. The new system expands Tatung’s use of the PCI I/O bus as an integral design component of the company’s SPARC-based workstations and servers, which are installed at tens of thousands of user sites throughout North America.
As Tatung’s highest-performing quad-processing system to date, the COMPstation 4450 is now shipping in both rack mount and tower configurations. The compact, rack mount servers meet the demanding needs of Internet Service Providers (ISP), OEMs and industrial, commercial and communications applications.
Tatung has also announced a price reduction on the COMPstation U60-2450 series which is equipped with a new motherboard that supports up to 4 GB of memory and dual UPA graphics. Both features make the system ideal for Internet, industrial and graphics-intensive applications such as CAD or MCAD/MCAE design. The COMPstation U60-2450(1) shares these features – support of up to 4 GB of memory and dual UPA graphics slots – with Sun Microsystem’s recent announcement, the Ultra 80 system, but boasts a space-saving design at a more attractive price.
For more information, contact Tatung Science & Technology, Inc., 1840 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035. Toll Free: 1-800-659-5902; Email: mkt@tsti.com Web site: www.tsti.com.
I. G. – RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC., PROVIDES QUALITY CUSTOM INTEGRATION SERVICES FOR SPARC INDUSTRY FEATURING INTEGRATED TOWER-ULTRA60
Sterling Heights, MI–February 2, 2000– Rave Computer Association, Inc., an authorized Sun(R) Master value-added System Integrator, announces its expanded hardware integration services for the SPARC industry worldwide.
Rave Computer Association, Inc., currently integrates Sun Microelectronics dual processor Ultra60 board into a mid-tower chassis. The mid-tower chassis allows for two internal drive bays, one external 5.25 drive bay and two external 3.5 drive bays, and a 350-Watt power supply.
The Ultra60 features up to 2 GB of memory, onboard fast Ethernet and ultra SCSI interfaces, four 64-bit PCI slots, three at 33MHz and one at 66MHz, and two 100/120MHz UPA graphic slots. The Ultra60 supports from one to two UltraSPARC-II processor modules ranging from 300MHz to 450MHz with variable cache sizes, providing binary compatibility with Solaris operating environment applications.
The Ultra60 is ideally suited for computing applications in telecommunications, medical imaging, graphical imaging, data analysis and networking systems. All of Rave Computer integrated systems feature a one-year warranty.
I. H. – TADPOLE-RDI AIMS TO HELP FORSYTHE’S HEWLETT-PACKARD AND SUN MICROSYSTEMS CUSTOMERS “WORK SMARTER, INVEST BETTER”
Tadpole-RDI’s new channel partner, Forsythe Solutions Group, launching first nationwide portable Unix campaign to improve operational efficiency and returns on IT investments of customers
Carlsbad, CA–17 February 2000–Tadpole-RDI, Inc., the mobile hardware business unit of Tadpole Technology plc, today announced the appointment of Forsythe Solutions Group, Inc. of Skokie (IL) as a channel partner for its ranges of portable Unix workstations and servers.
The appointment signals the launch of Forsythe’s nationwide “work smarter, invest better through portable Unix” campaign aimed at making anytime-anywhere computing professionals at its fifteen hundred plus Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems corporate customers more productive. Forsythe also aims to show its customers how portable Unix can be a generator of better returns on future IT investments.
Forsythe’s campaign addresses the computing needs and practices of numerous groups within an enterprise. A particular focus will be system administrators, software and e-commerce application developers and network managers, whose roles are increasingly field-based or undertaken outside corporate offices, such as at home. Traditional Hewlett-Packard or Sun Microsystems desktops are ill-suited for the increasing mobility and round-the-clock availability required of these Unix computing professionals desktops are too bulky to carry, require too much space for home use, and, being unable to withstand the rigors and demands of “field” computing, incur regular maintenance costs. The small footprint, reliability and low weight of designed-to-travel portable Unix hardware resolve these issues.
The trend towards increasing mobility of workforces is a subject high on the corporate agenda; a recent Gartner Group study suggested that the proportion of a corporation’s workforce undertaking tasks outside office walls will rise from its current fifteen percent to some forty percent by 2002.
For more information visit their web site at www.tadpolerdi.com.
I. I. – RAVE COMPUTER ASSOCIATION, INC. ANNOUNCES RAVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Sterling Heights, MI–February 9, 2000–Rave Computer Association, Inc. today announces Rave Storage Solutions designed to provide storage systems connectivity and complete storage solutions for the growing information storage requirements of its customers. Rave Storage products offer tape back up, RAID, and JBOD sub-systems configuration solutions. Fiber channel connectivity and interoperability support will be provided for all products from its partnered suppliers and for its own Rave family of custom-configured systems. By leveraging partnership resources with its own Rave Storage solutions, will provide virtually any state of the art configuration of JBOD, RAID or tape automation for Network Application Support (NAS) or Storage Area Networks (SAN) storage solutions.
Rave Computers partners include alliances with component manufacturers for fiber channel connectivity, enclosures, RAID controllers, disk and tape drives, and RAID and tape automation sub systems. As client/server concepts continue to gain popularity, customers are asking for more sophisticated solutions for storage, storage retrieval, and data backup. With the diverse growth of applications and increased demands for high availability storage solutions, Rave Computer is uniquely positioned with the right product mix and technical knowledge.
In the years to come, the demand for storage will intensify. Technology will evolve into being automated with superior data management capabilities, said Bev LeBoeuf, director of marketing for Rave Computer Association, Inc., Rave will continue to offer the latest solutions that our customers can build upon for their computing and storage requirements.
More information about Rave Computer Association, Inc., and Rave Systems can be found on the worldwide web at www.rave.net or by calling 1-800-966-7283.
II. SCD CERTIFIED TESTING ADDITIONS IN FEBRUARY
The SPARC Compliant brand, awarded by SPARC International, assures end users that systems so branded will work with any other product branded to the same level of the “SPARC Compliant Definition (SCD).” This list, updated monthly, includes changes made to the master list of SPARC Compliant products. To view the master list, please access our web site at www.sparc.org or send email to info@sparc.org.
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| Tatung | COMPstation 4MP U45445R | Solaris 7 | 2.1 | 02/21/00 |
| Tatung | COMPstation 4MP U45445T | Solaris 7 | 2.1 | 02/21/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 5 PGX24 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Enterprise Ultra 5S | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 10 Elite3D m3 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 10 PGX24 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 10 Creator | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 10 Creator3D | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 10 Elite3D m3 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 10 Elite3D m6 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 1360 Creator3D | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 1360 Elite3D m3 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 1360 Elite3D m6 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 2360 Creator3D | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 2360 Elite3D m3 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 2360 Elite3D m6 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 1450 Creator3D | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 1450 Elite3D m3 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 1450 Elite3D m6 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 2450 Creator3D | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 2450 Elite3D m3 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 60 2450 Elite3D m6 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 80 4450 Creator3D | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 80 4450 PGX32 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra 80 4450 Elite3D m6 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra Enterprise 2 1400 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra Enterprise 2 2400 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Enterprise 250 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Enterprise 3500 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Enterprise 4500 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Enterprise 5500 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Enterprise 6500 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
| Sun | Ultra Enterprise 10000 | Solaris 8 | 2.1 | 02/22/00 |
SPARC-related documents are available through SPARC International’s bookstore, SPARCSHOP. Access to SPARCSHOP is available several ways,
- email sparcshop@sparc.org
- phone us at 1-408-748-9111 x240
Currently available
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– Managing Editor –
Cheryl Hostetler
Direct Inquiries To – sparc-flash-request@sparc.org
Additional information about SPARC International, its members and its certification programs is available via the World Wide Web <<a href=”https://sparc.org”>www.sparc.org> or via email <<a href=”mailto:info@sparc.com”>info@sparc.org>.
SPARC International promotes the design, development and application of SPARC to computer and peripheral products; establishes hardware and software standards; enables compatibility across SPARC-branded products; and provides, promotes and protects SPARC and SPARC-related brand names.
SPARC International has verified to the best of its ability all of the product information contained in this newsletter. Information in this newsletter has been provided by the vendors. SPARC International has not reviewed claims made about product features or functions, and is not responsible for the accuracy of such claims. Users may want to obtain references, documentation, and/or demonstrations before purchasing any products or services. No vendor is authorized to act as an agent of SPARC International, or to make any representations or warranties on SPARC International’s behalf.
The following are Registered® Trademarks of SPARC International, Inc.:
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Other Trademarks that are in use or Pending Registration include:
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Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.