The July 2000 Monthly Bulletin For Users Of SPARC Based Products

Issue No. 82

I. SPARC NEWS

1. NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S REPRESENTATIVE FROM DATARAM CORPORATION

2. REBEL.COM INTRODUCES EXPANDED INTERNET SECURITY CAPABILITIES IN NETWINDER OFFICESERVER 2.0

3. FORCE ANNOUNCES THE ‘RUNNING WITH FORCE’ THIRD-PARTY ALLIANCE PROGRAM

4. THEMIS COMPUTER’s UltraSPARC USPIIi-1V TAKES 40 G’S PASSING A SERIES OF SHOCK AND VIBRATION TESTS, EXCEEDING Mil STANDARD 810E REQUIREMENTS!

5. RAVE ANNOUNCES THEY WILL MANUFACTURE, INTEGRATE, AND SUPPLY LINUX SOLUTIONS ON SPARC PLATFORM

6. RAVE COMPUTER ENJOYS INCREASED SALES REVENUE IN SECOND QUARTER

7. DATARAM UNVEILS MEMORY FOR SILICON GRAPHICS ^TM NEWEST WINDOWS ^TMNT AND LINUX ^TM WORKSTATIONS

II. V-9 ARCHITECTURE CERTIFIED TESTING ADDITIONS IN JULY

III.SPARCSHOP

I. SPARC News

I. A. – NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S REPRESENTATIVE FROM DATARAM CORPORATION

July 25, 2000–SPARC International is pleased to announce the position of Paul Tarantino from Dataram Corporation on our Board of Directors. Paul’s participation in the SPARC International Board will give him and Dataram the opportunity to make a real contribution in promoting SPARC(R) as the industry’s most successful microprocessor architecture.

Paul Tarantino, a native of West Windsor, NJ, received his degree in Philosophy from Villanova University in 1993. After graduation, Paul spent 3 years as a volunteer working for various charity and non-profit organizations throughout the world. His work experience lead him to remote regions of South America, the Caribbean, Europe and a Navajo reservation in Arizona. For the last 5 years he has worked for Dataram Corporation as Account Manager and his most recent position, Marketing Manager.

Dataram [NASDAQ: DRAM] is a publicly traded company founded in 1967, with revenues of $109 million for the fiscal year 2000. Dataram is a leading provider of gigabyte memory products for netwrok servers, including Sun Microsystems. For more information about Dataram visit their web site located at; www.dataram.com.

I. B. – REBEL.COM INTRODUCES EXPANDED INTERNET SECURITY CAPABILITIES IN NETWINDER OFFICESERVER 2.0

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada–July 13, 2000–Rebel.com Inc., a leading supplier of business networking technologies and solutions, today announced the availability of NetWinder OfficeServer 2.0. This all-in-one Internet server appliance now offers customers virtual private networking (VPN) for both remote users and distributed or branch offices. VPN software encrypts the data being sent from a remote computer to the NetWinder OfficeServer over the Internet. This ensures that any corporate e-mails, file transfers, and other data cannot be read by other people on the Internet. With VPN software, users can go anywhere in the world, connect to an ISP, and securely access their company’s Local Area Network (LAN), right over the Internet.

“NetWinder OfficeServer 2.0 is an extremely comprehensive upgrade from previous versions of our OfficeServer product,” said Michael Mansfield, president of Rebel.com. “We have greatly improved the security capabilities of the product, have included VPN capabilities from top-of-the-line partners, and have incorporated a firewall generator which is very easy for customers to manage. In short, we have ensured that this product includes all of the features which small and medium sized businesses are looking for in an Internet server appliance product.”

NetWinder OfficeServer 2.0 meets a comprehensive range of e-business needs such as, Internet security, Web site hosting, business-class Internet and e-mail access, and the ability to share computing resources. For more information contact Rebel.com’s Santa Clara, California location and ask for Todd Bablinskas, Email: todd.bablinskas@rebel.com, Phone: 408-748-8402 or 7648, Fax: 408-748-9777.

Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Rebel.com is a leading provider of business networking technology and solutions. CEO, Mac Brown has been a member on SPARC International’s Board of Directors since 1998. For more information visit their web site www.rebel.com.

I. C. – FORCE ANNOUNCES THE ‘RUNNING WITH FORCE’ THIRD-PARTY ALLIANCE PROGRAM

Partnership with Key Embedded Systems Vendors Offers Faster Time-to-Market, Broadest Range of Solutions for Communications Equipment Manufacturers

San Jose, CA–July 31, 2000–Force Computers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Solectron Corporation’s technology solutions business unit (NYSE:SLR) and a leader in embedded computing, today announced the “Running with Force” third-party alliance program to supply communications equipment manufacturers with the broadest range of embedded solutions and to speed time-to-market. This Force program will enable OEMs to obtain products from major industry vendors to streamline implementations. “Force proactively partners with leading software and hardware vendors to provide customers with the widest range of configuration options available,” said Torsten Ballentin, Force’s corporate director of strategic marketing. “Proactive partnering is essential to ensuring seamless integration of embedded solutions and speeding time-to-market. We have established the Running with Force program to align ourselves with key embedded systems vendors to provide these solutions to our customers.”

Compatible technologies and seamless integration across a wide array of products
Customers of Force will benefit from this new program by having the peace of mind that hardware and software offered by the company and its partners provide compatibility and seamless integration across a wide array of products. Force hardware partners include leading vendors of CompactPCI-, VME-, PCI-, PCI/ISA- and PMC-compatible networking cards, DSPs and graphics cards, allowing Force to concentrate on its strengths in powerful single board computers and robust chassis. The company also partners with all leading embedded operating system (OS) vendors including LynuxWorks, Microsoft, MontaVista, Sun and Wind River Systems. Other key partners include Trillium Digital Systems for telecommunications protocol software and Natural MicroSystems Corp. (Nasdaq:NMSS) and Dialogic for computer telephony solutions. All Force partners can be viewed at www.forcecomputers.com/3rdparty.htm. “Natural MicroSystems recognizes the broad range of integrated capabilities and time-to-market advantages that the Running with Force program imparts to communications equipment manufacturers,” said Allen Carney, vice president of marketing, Natural MicroSystems. “We look forward to partnering with Force in this ground-breaking alliance for OEMs.”

Bringing innovation to embedded applications
Through the Running with Force program, communications OEMs have access to cutting-edge technology for embedded applications. Force was an early adopter of the Linux operating system for embedded systems and in partnership offers it as an option to its customers. For example, Force and embedded Linux OS provider MontaVista Software Inc. partnered in 1999 to bring open-source software to the embedded market. “Force clearly demonstrates its technological leadership by recognizing the value that open-source Linux brings to the embedded community,” said James Ready, president of MontaVista. “By partnering with Force, we can deliver open-source software solutions to the worldwide embedded market.”

Teamwork leverages specialized capabilities of partner companies
Force has gathered some of the most influential companies in the embedded computing market under one banner-the Running with Force pennant-including Trillium Digital Systems. Through this program, customers tap a valuable reservoir of complementary, leading-edge technologies, which provides a more powerful solution for embedded applications than they could gather alone. By teaming with the Running with Force program, customers receive the specialized services of alliance member companies, allowing them to leverage core competencies and rely on outsource partners for tasks that can be done more efficiently and effectively than in-house, such as custom board design. “Trillium and Force have a tradition of working together on synergistic software/hardware solutions for the embedded market,” said Frank Morese, vice president -marketing, Trillium Digital Systems. “For example, Force’s revolutionary StackWare(tm) telecommunications protocols were based on our protocol software. By joining Force’s third-party alliance, we’ll work together more closely to offer value-added products.”

About Force Computers
Force Computers www.forcecomputers.com was founded in 1981 and is a leading designer and worldwide supplier of standard and custom systems and board-level computer platforms and services for the embedded market. The processor-independent company helps its customers develop embedded applications based on Alpha, MIPS, Pentium(r), PowerPC(tm), PowerQUICC(tm), SPARC(r), StrongARM and 68K(tm) technologies, for embedded UNIX(r), Linux(tm), Windows NT(r) and real-time applications. Force supports VME, CompactPCI(r), PCI, PCI/ISA and PMC bus architectures, as well as custom form factors. An ISO 9001 certified company, Force Computers practices Total Quality Management principles in all phases of the company’s global operations. The company, along with its parent company, Solectron Corporation, is the 1997 winner of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Manufacturing. Force’s corporate headquarters and Asia Pacific headquarters is located in San Jose, California. Force’s European headquarters is located in Munich, Germany.

All brands are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

I. D. – THEMIS COMPUTER’s UltraSPARC USPIIi-1V TAKES 40 G’S PASSING A SERIES OF SHOCK AND VIBRATION TESTS, EXCEEDING Mil STANDARD 810E REQUIREMENTS!

Fremont, CA–July 5, 2000–Themis Computer announces that its USPIIi-1V UltraSPARC 440 MHz single board VMEbus computer successfully passed high-level shock and vibration tests.

Testing to the military standard 810E method 514.4, the USPIIi-1V has performed under shock and vibration loads that exceed the requirements for basic transportation and ground mobile environments. The shock tests included powered up, functional tests performed to flight and ground equipment standards, subjecting the USPIIi-1V to shock loads in excess of 40g’s on three axis, for a duration of 11 ms.

These tests were exercised under both non-operating and operating conditions, three or more times in both directions, along each of three orthogonal axis. The transportation tests simulate product vibrations resulting from the interaction of vehicle suspension and structures with road and surface discontinuities, when products are transported from manufacturer to user installation. The ground based mobile tests simulate the vibration spectrum of a helicopter, exposing the USPIIi-1V to increased levels of vibration, at higher frequencies.

Once again Themis Computer leads the way with mission critical compute engines with proven ruggedization to withstand extreme conditions and provide the most powerful UltraSPARC processor performance for the most demanding applications.

THEMIS COMPUTER is the leading world-wide supplier of both UltraSPARC VMEbus single board computers and rugged systems. The company provides total solutions, including software and technical support for all products.

For more information, please contact THEMIS COMPUTER US, 3185 Laurelview Court, Fremont, California 94538. Phone. (510) 252-0870. Fax: (510) 490-5529. Email: sales@themis.com. WWW: www.themis.com. In Europe contact, THEMIS COMPUTER EUROPE, 20, rue du Tour de l’Eau, 38400 Saint Martin d’Heres, France. Phone: 33.476.59.60.46 Fax: 33.476.63.00.30.

I. E. -RAVE ANNOUNCES THEY WILL MANUFACTURE, INTEGRATE, AND SUPPLY LINUX SOLUTIONS ON SPARC PLATFORM

Sterling Heights, MI–July 11, 2000–Rave Computer Association, Inc., announced at the ISPCom Conference in Orlando, Florida, that they will integrate SPARC based platforms for customers building a Linux operating environment. Rave Computer now sells its Rave Systems workstations and servers through their established U.S. market. Rave continues to offer customers Sun’s Solaris operating environment.

“Rave Computer Association allows Linux customers to take advantage of the reliability, scalability, and performance offered by a SPARC processor-based system at an affordable price,” says Bev LeBoeuf, director of marketing for Rave Computer Association. “In certain applications where customers have used Linux, education and Internet service, they can now run on the 64-bit UltraSPARC processor.”

Rave Computer offers three platform solutions of Sun’s SPARCengine Ultra AX family with Linux as an operating system. The SPARC driven systems are integrated at Rave’s ISO-9002 registered facility. Both hardware and software support services are provided through Rave’s technical support program.

Rave Computer Linux server platforms are now available.

About Rave Computer Association, Inc.
Rave Computer Association, Inc., provides quality-configured systems around Sun’s SPARC technology with software, compatible peripherals, and other exceptional value-added services. Rave’s custom-built systems offer robust processing performance, flexibility, and reliability. Rave Computer’s UL test facility and ISO-9002 procedures ensure quality products and services. More information about Rave Computer Association, Inc., and its integration services can be found on their web site at: www.rave.net or by calling 1-800-966-7283. E-mail inquiries may be sent to info@rave.com. Contact: Meghan Thueme, Marketing Administrative Assistant, Phone: 800-966-7283 ext. 336, Fax: 810-939-7431.

I. F. – RAVE COMPUTER ENJOYS INCREASED SALES REVENUE IN SECOND QUARTER

Sterling Heights, MI–July 25, 2000–Rave Computer Association, Inc., a privately held original equipment manufacturer of SPARC systems, reported a record increase in sales revenue of up to 45% from the previous year-end. Rave Computer’s increased sales momentum continues to be strong and third quarter is already expected to exceed from last years’ quarterly report as well.

Most of Rave Computer’s increased sales revenue has come from their privately labeled Rave Systems product line. Rave Systems provide custom built SPARC system solutions to customers who have unique application specifications that cannot be met by off-the-shelf configured hardware. The Rave Systems product line, manufactured at Rave Computer’s facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan, has surpassed earlier corporate projections.

I. G. – DATARAM UNVEILS MEMORY FOR SILICON GRAPHICS™ NEWEST WINDOWS™NT AND LINUX™ WORKSTATIONS

Delivering Unparalleled Performance and Power to Windows and Linux Operating Systems.

Princeton, NJ-July 11, 2000-Dataram Corporation [NASDAQ: DRAM] a leading provider of gigabyte-class memory for high-performance network servers, today announces immediate availability of memory products for Silicon Graphics 230 and 330 workstations. Marrying state-of-the-art Intel architecture with Dataram memory and SGI visualization subsystems, this collective effort sets a new standard for graphics performance on Windows and Linux operating systems.

Rejuvenating its strategy in the windows-based workstation market, SGI’s 230 and 330 newest models aim to leverage industry-standard, off-the-shelf components with an improved focus on Linux. The new workstations feature Intel Pentium III 667, 733, or 800MHz processors. Model 230 is a single processor-based system while the Model 330 can support up to two. In addition, both the 230 and 330 support a minimum of 128MB to a maximum of 1.5GB of memory using 133MHz ECC SDRAM DIMMs.

Dataram is offering 256MB and 512MB capacities.
“Dataram remains committed to SGI’s Intel-based workstation marketplace and is pleased to offer these new products for the 230 and 330 workstations”, states Jeff Goldenbaum, Dataram’s product manager. “Adding our memory is a perfect way to extend the capacity and performance of these new systems.”

SGI’s 230 and 330 family is the company’s first workstation offering for Linux users, and the industry’s first workstation family designed from the ground-up to accelerate OpenGL 3D graphics in hardware on the Linux operating system, providing an ideal platform for graphics software developers and users.

Dataram Corporation is a leading provider of gigabyte memory for network servers, specializing in the manufacture of large-capacity memory products for Compaq, Digital, HP, IBM, Intel, SGI and Sun computers. The company serves users in diverse industries as financial services, internet service providers, aerospace, petroleum, graphics, automotive, telecommunications, utilities and education. Dataram is registered with the International Standards Organization, having met the internationally recognized ISO 9001 quality assurance standard for design/development, production, installation and service. Dataram memory is a cost-effective alternative to purchasing memory directly from the system manufacturer and is priced up to 50% less. Products can usually be delivered within 24 hours of order placement and are backed by a lifetime warranty and an advanced replacement program.

Dataram is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey and is celebrating its 33rd year in the computer industry. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.dataram.com. Contact: Kimberly Brahmann Dataram, Marketing kbrahmann@dataram.com 609-799-0071

II. V-9 ARCHITECTURE CERTIFIED TESTING ADDITIONS IN JULY

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 go to certified or send email to info@sparc.com