Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 14:38:43 -0500 From: Randall Hopper <rhh@ct.picker.com> To: hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Fwd: Digital UNIX on IA-64 (Merced) Message-ID: <19980106143843.57296@ct.picker.com>
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Interesting...
Tuesday January 6, 8:29 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital and Sequent Launch Initiative For Port of Digital UNIX to Intel
IA-64 For UNIX-Based Enterprise Computing
Initiative Will Deliver to Customers, ISVs and OEMs the Most Interoperable
UNIX on Intel IA-64 for Mixed UNIX-Microsoft Environments
Single Implementation of This Operating System to Span Intel IA-64 and
Alpha Architectures
MAYNARD, Mass. and BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital
Equipment Corporation (NYSE: DEC - news) and Sequent Computer Systems,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SQNT - news) today announced they will collaborate on a
64-bit UNIX initiative to establish the leading UNIX on the IA-64
enterprise computing architecture, and the most interoperable UNIX with
Windows NT. The 64-bit UNIX initiative is based on Digital UNIX, will add
key Sequent technologies, and be augmented with joint development by the
two companies. Key to the initiative will be aggressive recruitment of
additional partners and licensees.
As part of the initiative, Digital UNIX will be renamed to underscore the
effort to create the industry's leading UNIX on Intel, and reflect
Digital's commitment to partnering with other hardware vendors.
Casey Powell, chairman and CEO of Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. said,
``This 64-bit UNIX initiative will deliver the only complete 64-bit UNIX on
Intel IA-64. The initiative is uniquely positioned to achieve broad
acceptance among enterprise-focused customers, ISVs and OEMs who require a
risk-free migration path, partnership, and product integration for IA-64.''
The offering will leverage the more than 4,500 existing 64-bit Digital UNIX
applications, provide binary compatibility with existing 32-bit
applications, a production-ready environment for high-end applications,
integral UNIX-Microsoft integration, and an open requirements process for
OEM partners. In addition, a source migration path will be available for
current 32-bit UNIX vendors who participate in this initiative.
The 64-bit UNIX initiative will be based on Digital UNIX, the industry's
leading 64-bit operating system, and will continue to be owned by
Digital. The joint development effort will integrate key technology from
Sequent's DYNIX/ptx IA-32 UNIX operating system, including Non-Uniform
Memory Access (NUMA) technology, and draw on the engineering expertise of
both companies. Sequent has delivered high-end systems based on the Intel
architecture since 1984.
Robert B. Palmer, Digital chairman, president and chief executive officer,
said, ``We are pleased to welcome Sequent as our first partner in creating
the leading UNIX for Intel's 64-bit architecture. Together with Sequent and
future partners, we intend to lead the market for 64-bit UNIX by delivering
the best enterprise UNIX on Intel, the best path to Merced for customers
and ISVs, and proven UNIX-Microsoft interoperability.''
Complete Compatibility
This 64-bit UNIX initiative will provide:
A full range of compatibility for source and binary code.
A single implementation across Intel IA-64 and Alpha to ensure
functional equivalence and 100 percent source
compatibility across the two architectures.
100 percent binary compatibility for ISV and customer
applications. As a result, a binary application developed on any
IA-64 system will run on all vendors' IA-64 systems running this
enhanced operating system.
Support for running 32-bit binary applications unmodified.
In addition, Digital and Sequent will jointly develop a source-compatible
environment, initially on top of Sequent ptx, to provide Sequent and other
OEM customers with forward compatibility for source code written on their
32-bit systems.
This initiative will offer the only UNIX with little endian Intel byte-
order compatibility across both Intel and RISC (Alpha)
implementations. This makes smooth forward migration of applications
possible with a simple re- compile.
John Miner, vice president and general manager of Intel Corporation
[Nasdaq:INTC - news]'s Enterprise Server Group said, ``With Merced, the
Intel architecture is becoming a unifying platform for enterprise computing
environments. In this industry- wide endeavor, Digital and Sequent each
bring a strong history of technology and partnering capabilities for
high-end UNIX solutions with strong Windows NT integration.''
Sequent Chairman Powell added, ``We chose to partner with Digital for this
64-bit UNIX initiative because it gives our customers a production-quality
operating system with thousands of 64-bit applications at the launch of
Merced, 32-bit compatibility looking back, and Windows NT integration
looking forward. That's what we needed -- what any enterprise OEM needs --
and only Digital offered it. I'll give you an example. With Solaris, Sun
offered Sequent a low-end Intel environment which has a long way to go
before it approaches where Solaris-on-SPARC is today. And, at Sun, the
commitment clearly isn't there for NT integration.''
Gary Bloom, Oracle Corporation's [Nasdaq:ORCL - news] senior vice president
for Alliances and Products, said, ``This 64-bit UNIX initiative is an
important event for the enterprise UNIX marketplace, where consolidation is
creating a few very strong players. Oracle supports this effort based on
the strength of Digital and Sequent in the enterprise. Oracle's Network
Computing Architecture will fully exploit the interoperability of this
enhanced operating system to provide an ideal platform for applications,
enabling lower cost of ownership and high performance. We expect that other
ISVs and OEM partners will find this 64-bit UNIX initiative extremely
appealing. This offers proven technology, a smooth migration path, and a
robust, scalable environment for Merced.''
Commitment To UNIX Leadership On Alpha And Intel
Digital Chairman Palmer added, ``This announcement reinforces Digital's
long-term strategic commitment to UNIX on both Alpha and Intel. We already
have more than five years of experience in delivering high-performance,
64-bit UNIX solutions on Alpha. In other words, customers and ISVs have an
immediate path to 64-bit enterprise computing. With the availability of
64-bit UNIX on both Alpha and Intel, they will have access to the broadest
range of high- performance solutions in the industry.''
Leader In UNIX/Microsoft Integration
This initiative will offer leading integration for UNIX and Windows NT, a
world-class integrated development environment, middleware and
infrastructure products. Digital, as a leader in Windows NT systems
integration and interoperability, offers customers a head start in
UNIX/Windows NT bridging technologies. These technologies will be available
to OEMs who adopt this initiative.
UNIX and Windows NT integration and interoperability will be a focus of
future Digital/Sequent joint development, leveraging Sequent's expertise in
achieving high-performance, scalability, and availability on Intel-based
systems.
About Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
Sequent Computer Systems is a global leader in enterprise-wide, open IT
systems, delivering scalable, flexible, data center solutions. Sequent's
solutions are based on breakthrough NUMA-Q architecture, which supports
UNIX, Windows NT, or mixed environments; a comprehensive portfolio of
proven programs and services; and an established set of partnerships with
the industry's best-in-class. Sequent minimizes customers' risk, enabling
integration of computing infrastructure and implementation of complex,
business-critical applications. More than 8,500 installations house Sequent
systems, including many of the world's largest and most sophisticated OLTP,
DSS, business communications, and RDBMS applications.
About Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation, recognized for product and service
excellence, is a leading supplier of high-performance, Web-based computing
solutions which help enterprises compete in the global marketplace. Digital
gives its customers a winning Internet advantage through a comprehensive
portfolio of Internet solutions based on award-winning systems, advanced
networking infrastructure, innovative software, and industry applications -
including those from business partners. The expertise and experience of
Digital employees help customers plan, design, implement, manage and
support Internet solutions in countries throughout the world. For the
latest company information, visit Digital on the World Wide Web at
http://www.digital.com and/or http://www.newsdesk.com.
NOTE: Digital and the Digital logo are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corporation. Sequent is a registered trademark and NUMA-Q is a trademark of
Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks
of Intel Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States
and other countries, licensed exclusively to X/Open Company Ltd. All other
brand and product names appearing in this release are registered trademarks
or trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: Digital Equipment Corporation
Regards,
Gary Hayden
Account Representative
Digital Equipment Corporation
2500 Citywest Boulevard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77042
__________________________________
281-265-2806 Telephone
281-265-2823 Fax
713-607-8866 Pager
Gary.Hayden@digital.com Internet
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