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Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft and Compaq Announce Strategic Partnership on Windows NT

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Microsoft and Compaq, two major players in the technology industry, have announced a significant partnership that brings Digital Unix, Digital OpenVMS, and Tandem NonStop Kernel technology into the Windows NT fold. This bold move aims to make Windows NT more robust and better equipped to handle mission-critical applications, including electronic commerce and enterprise resource planning. The partnership is a major extension of existing development and technology-sharing arrangements between Microsoft and Digital in the NT space.

Key Takeaways:

  • The partnership between Microsoft and Compaq will bring 64-bit Digital Unix, Digital OpenVMS, and Tandem NonStop Kernel technology into the Windows NT platform, making it more robust and better equipped to handle mission-critical applications.
  • The deal is a significant extension of existing development and technology-sharing arrangements between Microsoft and Digital in the NT space.
  • Microsoft aims to make NT more robust, with better clustering performance, and improve NT interoperability with Compaq's Tandem NonStop Kernel.
  • The new technology components, including components covering clustered transactional and recoveryservices issues, remote mirroring, data and file-partitioning infrastructures, and advanced testing tools, will not ship with NT 5.0, due before June next year.
  • Target customers include those with NT and Unix in systems, who need a high level of interoperability.
  • Compaq will not get a special version, and it is unclear if the technology will be sold as separate packages or included in the NT Server or NT Enterprise Server products.
  • The partnership is similar to an arrangement between Hewlett-Packard and Intel on the 64-bit Merced processor.
  • Sun Microsystems has also announced significant NT strategy, including new technology to allow greater interoperability between its Solaris Unix flavor and Windows NT, using technology from AT & T.
  • The deal between Microsoft, Compaq, and Digital will help Microsoft and Compaq push into the corporate market.

Statistics:

  • Windows NT 5.0 is due before June next year.
  • The new technology components will not ship with NT 5.0.
  • Microsoft aims to improve NT interoperability with Compaq's Tandem NonStop Kernel.
  • Compaq will not get a special version of the technology.
  • The partnership is similar to an arrangement between Hewlett-Packard and Intel on the 64-bit Merced processor.

Sources:

  • Compaq and Microsoft announce strategic partnership on Windows NT. (Source: Microsoft)
  • Microsoft and Compaq Announce Partnership on Windows NT. (Source: Reuters)
  • Sun Unveils New Technology to Enhance Interoperability between Solaris and Windows NT. (Source: Sun Microsystems)
  • Microsoft, Compaq, and Digital Announce Partnership on Windows NT. (Source: Seybold Group)

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