Sun Microsystems Announces High Availability Program for Communication Equipment Providers - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, Feb 28, 2000

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Tuesday introduced the CP2000 High Availability (HA) program that will enable communication equipment providers to build highly available, carrier-grade systems for public network providers.

This program -- based on Sun's board-level products -- offers a standards-based approach for those equipment providers to rapidly develop scalable platforms that help carriers keep pace with unprecedented traffic generated over the Internet.

Effective immediately, this comprehensive, collaborative program gives customers the technology, products and services to build HA systems. Implemented in several phases, key elements are:

1. A powerful new systems framework to support HA implementations

2. Early access to the framework will be available, and is scheduled to include a rapid development kit, documentation, training and consultation

3. Full commercial implementation of the framework that includes HA-specific board-level products, operating system software, middleware, ongoing training and services "Sun's modular HA approach is a critical component for OEMs seeking to develop advanced platforms for new carrier services that enable the convergence of voice and data technologies in wireline, wireless, switching and access networks," said Mel Friedman, president, Sun Microsystems' Microelectronics. "The CP2000 HA program delivers on Sun's `Build for the Dot-Com Age' strategy, which harnesses the power of Sun's expertise in processors, systems, and networking for the communications equipment provider market."

The CP2000 HA program consists of:

-- A new family of HA CompactPCI board products that includes support for multiple levels of hot-swap, as well as a suite of system management tools using the IPMI bus;

-- Extensions to the CompactPCI products that support a multi-CPU and system approach to failover redundancy requirements, both in hardware and software;

-- Integrated system software to facilitate HA that includes an integrated Solaris 8.0 Operating Environment with extensions, and planned ChorusOS 4.0 software support.

In addition, select independent software vendors and independent hardware vendors will be working with the early access kit to co-develop products for the CP2000 HA program. This collaborative effort broadens the solution base available to Sun's communication equipment provider customers.

The first phase of the program will provide selected customers with an early access version of the CP2000 implementation. This evaluation system will enable equipment providers to obtain a head start in their own HA system development efforts, while concretely implementing CP2000 capabilities. Improvements by these customers should be reflected in the next stage of the CP2000 HA program.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network Is The Computer -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to ".com" their businesses. With $13 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.