Aggressive Promotion Provides iForce Partners and Customers With The Benefits of Rock Solid Solaris OS At Revolutionary Price Points for Volume x86 Server Deployments
Building on the growing demand for its x86 systems, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW) today announced a new promotion for the Solaris Operating System (OS) on x86 systems, providing annual volume subscription packages in quantities of 100, 500 and 2000, including services and support. The promotion is also available to iForce partners, allowing them to pass on significant cost savings to their customers. This aggressive promotion for high volume server deployments prices the Solaris OS at up to 80 percent off the cost of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, and up to 70 percent off the cost of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The promotion price also enables customers to simply pay one price for the use of the Solaris OS on any mix of 1-4 way x86 systems.
Customers are able to leverage the uncompromising security and reliability of the Solaris OS on low-cost x86 systems, including Sun’s new AMD Opteron processor-based systems such as the Sun Fire V20z server. In addition, they can also benefit from the indemnification that Sun provides to all Solaris OS for x86 customers, helping to make the Solaris OS a safe and risk-free choice.
“There is no better time to choose the Solaris OS for its enterprise-class features and unparalleled security at unmatched price points—all on x86 systems,” said John Loiacono, executive vice president, software, Sun Microsystems, Inc. “This promotion makes Solaris the most competitively priced OS on x86 systems and will be attractive to both existing Solaris customers that are heavily invested in Sun’s OS, as well as new customers that may have been on the fence before.”
Solaris OS Subscription For x86 Systems Yields Cost Savings Over Linux and Windows
The Solaris OS for x86 promotion is based on an annual subscription starting at a $50,000 U.S. list price for a 100 unit package, which includes both the license and support. Subscriptions are also offered in packages of 500 and 2,000 units with either standard or premium support. Compared to commercial Linux and Windows, customers will see significant cost savings with the Solaris OS for x86 promotion package. For example, the 2,000 unit package with standard support has a U.S. list price of $800,000 compared to the following comparable products:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES: 2,000 subscriptions with standard support ($799 per system) would cost nearly $1.6 million and be prohibited for use on 4 CPU systems.
- Windows: One year of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition with support (more than $4.4 million) is five times more expensive.
The Solaris OS for x86 systems has gained rapid industry momentum, with more than 850,000 registered licenses to date and more than 200 supported x86 systems from both Sun and third party vendors. In addition, more than 900 solutions are available for Solaris 9 x86 through approximately 600 ISVs. Since last quarter alone, the ISV adoption rate has grown approximately 12 percent.
Pricing and Availability
The Solaris Enterprise Subscription x86 promotion will be available on April 27 worldwide and is expected to run through the end of the year. Customers can purchase use of the Solaris OS on any mix of 1-4 CPU servers up to the selected package limit, including standard 5×12 support or premium 7×24 support. More information about the Solaris OS for x86 promotion and prices in other countries are available at sun.com/solaris/x86.
About the Solaris Operating System
The #1 enterprise-class UNIX, the Solaris Operating System for SPARC, x86 and AMD Opteron-based systems redefines the operating system as a services platform by combining traditional OS functionality with application services and identity management. The Solaris 9 OS can deliver the security, manageability and performance that IT professionals need to help 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, visit: http://www.sun.com/solaris
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, Java, 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. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company Ltd.