IBM, Unisys Announcements Affirm Windows NT Server in the Enterprise

Strategic Insights -

IBM Corp. and Unisys Corp. have joined Compaq Computer Corp., Data General Corp., and Hewlett-Packard Co. in committing to 99.9 percent availability for the Microsoft Windows NT Server network operating system version 4.0. This announcement broadens customer choice in the growing marketplace for high-availability Windows NT Server-based systems. Customers need a platform for hosting line-of-business applications that combines the integration and cost-effectiveness of Windows NT Server with data-center-grade reliability.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM has announced a new 99.9 Percent Availability Program for customers purchasing netfinity departmental, enterprise-class servers with Microsoft Windows NT clustering software for mission-critical applications.
  • IBM's Netfinity servers provide cluster management, system redundancy, chip-kill correction, real-time diagnostics, and other mission-critical technologies borrowed from IBM's midrange and mainframe server lines.
  • Unisys has announced its forthcoming uptime commitment to enterprises in the computer industry's most demanding market sectors, including stock exchanges, airlines, telecommunications companies, and banks.
  • Data General was the first vendor to extend its OMNiiCARE 99.9 percent uptime guarantee beyond Windows NT Server to users of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0.
  • Compaq has announced a suite of services for its family of ProLiant servers running the Windows NT Server operating system, including availability review, disaster recovery, and various levels of service support.
  • Hewlett-Packard Co. has introduced the HP Mission Critical Server Suite for Windows NT, which includes the first server vendor's commitment to 99.9 percent uptime for Intel-based servers running Windows NT.

Statistics:

  • 99.9 percent availability commitment for Windows NT Server
  • 12-month customer adoption growth of Windows NT Server in data-center-type applications
  • 99.95 percent uptime guarantee for Compaq ProLiant clusters
  • 99.9 percent uptime commitment for Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP Mission Critical Server Suite

Sources:

  • IBM Corp., February 4, 1999, 99.9 Percent Availability Program for Windows NT Clustering Software [http://www.ibm.com/news/1999/02/04.phtml]
  • Unisys Corp., forthcoming uptime commitment announcement [http://www.marketplace.unisys.com/ent]
  • Compaq Computer Corp., Suite of Services for ProLiant Servers Running Windows NT Server [http://www.digital.com/services/mcs/nt/has.htm]
  • Data General Corp., OMNiiCARE 99.9 Percent Uptime Guarantee [http://www.dg.com/services/html/omniicare_service.html]
  • Hewlett-Packard Co., HP Mission Critical Server Suite for Windows NT [http://www.hp.com/ssg/nt/article28.html]