Archive | November, 2003

Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) today underscored why so many customers run the Oracle Database for their decision-support needs by announcing a world-record TPC-H 1000GB (one terabyte) benchmark result for Oracle(r) Database 10g.

Running on a Fujitsu® PRIMEPOWER™ 2500 server with 64 SPARC64 processors on the Solaris 9 operating system, Oracle Database 10g achieved a record-breaking 34,492.5 QphH@1000GB at a price performance of (EUR)156/QphH@1000GB. Oracle Database 10g outperformed the best TPC-H one terabyte results from IBM DB2 by 54 percent and delivered more than six times better performance than Microsoft SQL Server(1).

Oracle’s newest database software, Oracle Database 10g, helps customers generate timely, analytical reports with higher levels of availability, scalability and reliability.

“With data volume and complexity on the rise, it has become increasingly important for customers to deploy data warehouse solutions that can accommodate growth and rapid return on investment,” said Richard Sarwal, vice president, server performance, Oracle Corporation. “Oracle Database 10g includes new automated management features that further Oracle’s reputation for providing the best database software available at lower total costs of ownership than competing databases.”

About Oracle Database 10g

Oracle Database 10g is designed to be effectively deployed on everything from small servers to the biggest SMP servers and from clusters to enterprise grids. It features automated tuning and management capabilities that make it easy and cost effective to operate. Its unique ability to natively manage all your data from traditional business information to OLAP, to XML documents, to spatial/location information make it the ideal choice to power Online Transaction Processing, Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing, and Content Management applications.

Availability

Oracle Database 10g is scheduled to be available by the end of the calendar year on all supported platforms. Members of Oracle Technology Network (OTN) will be able to download the new database software free of charge at http://otn.oracle.com. For more information, customers may contact Oracle Direct at 1-800-633-0753, or their Oracle sales representative.

About TPC-H

TPC-H is a decision support benchmark consisting of a suite of business oriented ad-hoc queries and concurrent data modifications. The performance metric is called the TPC-H Composite Query-per-Hour Performance Metric (QphH@Size) and reflects multiple aspects of the capability of the system to process queries. More information is available at http://www.tpc.org.

About Oracle

Oracle is the world’s largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle, visit our Web site at http://www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. Fujitsu is a registered trademark of Fujitsu Limited, and PRIMEPOWER is a trademark or registered trademark of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

As of October 16, 2003: Fujitsu PRIMEPOWER 2500, 34,492.5 QphH@1000GB (EUR)156/QphH@1000GB available 1/31/04. Unisys ES7000 Aries 420 Enterprise Server, 5,199.1 QphH@1000GB, $119.12/QphH@1000GB, available 10/15/03 (1). HP ProLiant DL760 x900-128P, 22,361.9 QphH@1000GB, $253/QphH@1000GB, available 6/20/02 (1).

Team to Deliver Volume Market Opportunities for ISVs, Partners and Customers With Industrial Strength, Affordable Platform on the AMD Opteron Processor

Sun And AMD to Offer New iForce Partner Program for the AMD Opteron Processor

With today’s announcement that Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) and AMD (NYSE: AMD) have formed an alliance to deliver a broad range of AMD Opteron[tm] processor-based systems, Sun also announced it plans to offer its Java Enterprise System on the AMD Opteron processor and is significantly extending the reach of its Solaris Operating System (OS) and leadership in the 64-bit space. The alliance intends to provide increased market opportunities for ISVs, OEMs, and channel partners by offering an industrial strength, affordable platform that has been fully optimized and tuned for the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor.

With the Sun Java Enterprise System and tools on the Solaris OS for the AMD Opteron processor, customers can also benefit from the seamless scalability from single systems to entire compute farms. Building on more than 20 years of OS innovation and a solid history with the 64-bit platform, the Solaris OS is built for 32- and 64- bit application co-existence, enabling maximized performance for existing 32-bit applications.

“Sun is in a unique competitive position against HP and IBM – who now find themselves lacking an operating system on either Intel or AMD Opteron, and fighting a systems war without weaponry” said Jonathan Schwartz, executive vice president, software at Sun. “Sun’s commitment to Solaris and the Java Enterprise System across multiple operating systems, shows us to be the only systems vendor offering a single system capable of running across multiple microprocessors – Intel, AMD Opteron and SPARC. With nearly 500,000 Solaris licenses delivered into the market this year alone, our focus on volume, scale and security stands as a beacon for HP and IBM customers facing a dead-end Unix, and Microsoft customers frustrated with security and fragility. They both now have a safe landing zone, based on open standards, and available on all industry standard hardware.”

As part of the alliance, Sun and AMD plan to collaborate to optimize the performance of the Solaris OS, the Java platform and developer tools for AMD Opteron processor-based systems. The Solaris OS on the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor platform is expected to be available in the first half of 2004 through Sun’s innovative early-access Software Express for Solaris program. Furthermore, Sun and AMD intend to work jointly with the Linux community to define and promote a 64-bit UNIX(r)-Linux Application Binary Interface (ABI) to enable interoperability. UNIX or Linux applications could run natively on any operating systems supporting this ABI.

“By running the current version of the Solaris OS on the AMD Opteron processor platform, we are experiencing substantial improvements in kernel performance for Solaris over other x86-based systems, “ said John Fowler, chief technology officer, software, Sun Microsystems. “With the Solaris OS running on the AMD Opteron processor, our customers and partners can take advantage of unique features such as containers delivering virtualization and high levels of security. Solaris has led the industry in proven military grade security built-in to the OS, and with Trusted Solaris OS, offering unmatched levels of privacy.”

By offering its innovative Java Enterprise System software stack for both the Solaris OS and Linux on the AMD Opteron processor, Sun can bring huge value-add to the AMD Opteron processor platform and thus create new possibilities for ISVs and resellers in new markets. Key components of the Java Enterprise System are identity, directory, portal and availability servers.

“Sun’s commitment to the AMD Opteron processor platform further catapults our growing ISV support for enterprise customers,” said Marty Seyer, vice president and general manager of the Microprocessor Business Unit at AMD. “This alliance can deliver what enterprise customers have been asking for – a simplified transition to 64-bit computing combined with a mature x86 architecture and a proven enterprise operating system.”

Sun and AMD plan to provide ISVs and developers with the information, tools, and community required to speed their solutions to market. The companies intend to collaborate to produce the Sun/AMD Developer Resource Kit which will include the Solaris OS, Linux support information, the AMD Developer Resource Kit, the Sun Java Studio (including C, C++, and Java development tools), Getting Started information, and access to the iForce Partner Program for the AMD Opteron processor. They also intend to include the Java System Studio 8 Compiler Collection for the Solaris OS, delivering complete language systems and tools designed to simplify software development. A seed unit program for ISVs is also planned. Information on the iForce Partner Program for the AMD Opteron processor, and the Sun/AMD Developer Resource Kit is available at http://www.sun.com/amd. Sun’s new AMD Opteron processor-based systems along with the robust offerings of Sun Java Software Systems with the Solaris OS or Linux can greatly strengthen the product portfolios of Sun’s iForce channel and reseller partners, extending their product lines for low-cost, high-performance computing and expanding their opportunities to compete in new markets, as well as exceeding customer satisfaction within their existing installed base.

About the Solaris Operating System

The Solaris OS, the #1 Enterprise-Class UNIX(R), redefines the operating system for SPARC(R), x86 and AMD Opteron processor-based systems as a services platform by combining traditional OS functionality with application services and identity management. The Solaris OS delivers the security, manageability and performance that IT professionals need to increase service levels and decrease costs and risk. The Solaris OS also serves as the foundation for the new Sun Java Enterprise System, an integrated, open, standards-based software system delivered using a new predictable approach for development, testing and servicing. It offers a simple business model that provides a single subscription and price for the software system, maintenance, support, consulting and education services. For more information please visit: http://www.sun.com/solaris

About Java Enterprise System

Serious software made simple, the Java Enterprise System seamlessly integrates award-winning and market-leading enterprise network applications and services at the heart of Web services. This complete system of standards-based software is delivered as one entity on a pre- integrated infrastructure. The Java System Portal Server, Java System Directory Server, Java System Identity Server, Java System Web Server, Java System Messaging Server, Java System Calendar Server, Java System Instant Messaging and Java System Application Server are key components of the Sun Java Enterprise System. For more information on the Java Enterprise System please visit: www.sun.com/software/javaenterprisesystem.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision — “The Network Is The Computer” — has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com

Safe-harbor

This press release contains projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future products, results or financial performance of Sun Microsystems, Inc., including statements regarding Sun’s plans to deliver a broad range of AMD Opteron processor-based systems; Sun’s plans to offer its Java Enterprise System on the AMD Opteron processor; that it is significantly extending the reach of its Solaris Operating System and leadership in the 64-bit space; Sun’s intent that the alliance will provide increased market opportunities for ISVs, OEMs and channel partners by offering an industrial strength, affordable platform that has been fully optimized and tuned for the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor; that customers can also benefit from the seamless scalability from single systems to entire compute farms; that the Solaris OS is built for 32- and 64-bit application co-existence enabling maximized performance for existing 32-bit applications; that customers now have a safe landing zone; that Sun and AMD plan to collaborate to optimize the performance of the Solaris OS, the Java platform and developer tools for AMD Opteron processor-based systems; that the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor platform is expected to be available in the first half of 2004 through Sun’s early-access Software Express for Solaris program;

Sun’s intent with AMD to work jointly with the Linux community to define and promote a 64-bit UNIX-Linux Application Binary Interface to enable interoperability; that we are experiencing substantial improvements in kernel performance for Solaris over other x86-based systems; that with the Solaris OS running on the AMD Opteron processors, our customers and partners can take advantage of unique features such as containers delivering virtualization and high levels of security; that Sun can bring huge value-add to the AMD Opteron processor platform and thus create new possibilities for ISVs and resellers in new markets; that Sun’s commitment to the AMD Opteron processor platform further catapults our growing ISV support for enterprise customers; that Sun plans with AMD to provide ISVs and developers with the information, tools, and community required to speed their solutions to market; that the companies intend to collaborate to produce the Sun/AMD Developer Resource Kit; that the parties intend to include the Java System Studio 8 Compiler Collection for the Solaris OS, delivering complete language systems and tools designed to simplify software development; that a seed unit program for ISVs is also planned; that Sun’s new AMD Opteron processor-based systems along with the robust offerings of Sun Java Software Systems with the Solaris OS or Linux can greatly strengthen the product portfolios of Sun’s iForce channel and reseller partners; and that partners will expand their opportunities to compete in new markets, as well as exceeding customer satisfaction within their installed base. Factors that might cause actual results to differ include risks associated with developing and marketing new products, lack of success in technological advancements, lack of acceptance of new products, adverse business conditions, failure to retain key employees, cancellation or delay of projects and in particular the cancellation or delay of the alliance with AMD, increased competition and continued adverse general economic conditions in the U.S. and internationally. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Sun’s periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Sun’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2003.

Price of Sun Blade 2000 Workstation Cut by 30 Percent; Sun Blade(TM) 150 Workstation Now Boasts Double the Memory, Storage Capacity, and a DVD-ROM Drive at No Additional Cost

Ever increasing its price-performance value in the 64-bit technical computing market, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced performance enhancements to the Sun Blade 150 workstation and a price cut to the Sun Blade 2000 workstation. The Sun Blade 150 workstation will feature double the memory and disk capacity as well as a DVD-ROM with no price increase. The higher-end Sun Blade 2000 workstation will be available for $3,000 less than the base configuration – a price reduction of 30 percent.

“We know that today’s technical computing customers need high-quality, high- performance systems at an affordable price,” says Fred Kohout, product line director, Workstations Product Group and Scalable Systems Group, Sun Microsystems. “Today’s move underscores Sun’s commitment to producing the most advanced, powerful and affordable workstations available. Sun is the number one manufacturer of technical computing 64-bit UNIX workstations in the world, and we plan to stay number one through continually refreshing the features and pricing of our workstation product portfolio.”

The refreshed Sun Blade 150 workstation will now offer up to two internal 80 gigabytes (GB) of 7200-RPM EIDE hard drives to provide high internal storage capacity. The base memory will double to 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM for the small configuration and 512 MB for the medium configuration. Additionally, the new Sun Blade 150 workstation will come standard with a DVD-ROM and optional 48x CD read/write option. These performance enhancements offer 83 percent better price/SPECint performance and 81 percent better price/SPECfp performance than IBM’s RS/6000 44P model 170.

The Sun Blade 2000 workstation price has been slashed by $3,000, dropping from $9,995 to $6,995 U.S. for the base configuration. Targeted at the high-end technical computing market, the Sun Blade 2000 sports up to two 1.2 GHz UltraSPARC III processors, eight MB of Level 2 cache per CPU and a maximum of eight GB of RAM.

With this latest price cut, the Sun Blade 2000 workstation now offers 67 percent better price/SPECint performance and 73 percent better price/SPECfp performance than the comperable IBM pSeries 630 model 6E4. Additionally, the Sun Blade 2000 supports the Sun XVR-100, Sun XVR-500, Sun XVR-1000 and Sun XVR-1200 graphics accelerators, allowing many combinations of powerful graphics solutions such as dual displays for graphics-intensive use or quad displays for vertical markets.

As with all Sun workstations, the Sun Blade 150 and the Sun Blade 2000 workstations run the powerful 64-bit Solaris Operating Environment and are 100 percent binary compatible across the Sun portfolio. The performance enhanced Sun Blade 150 workstation will be available to customers on November 20, 2003. The newly priced Sun Blade 2000 is available now.

More information on these products can be found at: http://www.sun.com/desktop/products/ws.html

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision — “The Network Is The Computer” — has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Benchmark Demonstrates Strong Performance to Help Supply Chain Planners Deal with Risk and Uncertainty of Demand Over High Inventory Costs ~ Underscores Reasons Why SPARC/Solaris is a Preferred Platform for i2 SPM

Sun Microsystems announced today a benchmark configuration with i2 Technologies, Inc. (OTC: ITWO) running i2 Service and Parts Management (SPM) on the Sun Fire 6800 midframe server. Testing i2 SPM on the bedrock of Sun technology –the Solaris Operating System and UltraSPARC[r] architecture– engineers simulated a time-phased forecast, inventory and replenishment plan for 10.1 million part locations, and generated an end-to-end plan over a 90-day horizon in one hour, 31 minutes, with peak planning throughput recorded at two-point-seven billion part location periods per hour. Today’s announcement means a typical service supply chain business, channelling tens of thousands of items (SKUs) to hundreds of locations, can improve forecast accuracy, and optimize inventory required to meet customer demand and service level agreements.

i2 Service and Parts Management, a web-based solution, is designed to enable companies to maximize the utilization of parts, budgets and facilities to reach key performance objectives such as high customer service, low operating costs, improved margins and overall market leadership. Leveraging the solution on the Solaris OS can provide high availability and scalability, so businesses can have peace-of-mind knowing the right parts are on hand in the right location at the right time. To accomplish this task, i2 SPM utilizes business logic specific to the service and aftermarket parts industry with a three-tiered workflow:

1. Forecasting – i2 SPM can forecast demand for spare parts based on historical data, equipment usage and failure rates;
2. Inventory Planning – i2 SPM can set target inventory levels for service parts based on cost, parts criticality and budgetary constraints; and,
3. Replenishment Planning – i2 SPM can generate replenishment plans that consider the forecast for repairable and returned parts, as well as the possibility of substituting alternate parts.

Several real-world scenarios, ranging from two million to 10 million part locations, were tested running i2 Service and Parts Management v6.0.3 on two Sun Fire 6800 midframe servers with 24 x 1050 MHz CPU power and, Sun StorEdge T3 arrays (with 9 x 72 GB drives per array). The complete planning process (including forecasting, inventory and replenishment planning) was accomplished in one hour, 31 minutes. Significantly, the replenishment planning process was successfully completed within 20 minutes with only 24 CPUs, and helps demonstrate the i2 SPM capabilities for timely solving large scale service parts and retail replenishment planning problems running on the SPARC/Solaris platform.

The benchmark was generated in Sun’s Newark, Calif., Customer Benchmark Center to emulate typical supply planning needs of the world’s largest distribution and parts managments centers. Benchmark results can be highly influential as customers weigh price and performance — along with trust, reliability and ROI — when selecting mission critical solutions to power their business.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision — “The Network Is The Computer” — has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Solaris, Sun Fire and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.