Oracle and Compaq Demonstrate Industry's First Parallel Database Server on Industry Standard Platforms; Solution to Deliver Midrange Technology Benefits to Branch, Remote Offices

Business Wire, Nov 7, 1995

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 1995 -- Oracle Corp. and Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today demonstrated the first parallel database server technology running on industry-standard platforms. The demonstration of Oracle7 Parallel Server running on a Compaq ProLiant Server Array took place at Intel's enterprise-focused launch of the Pentium Pro processor today in New York City. The combination of an industry-standard platform and a parallel database server -- a first in the computer industry -- will provide customers with a highly-scalable, highly-available platform for running business-critical computing systems in the distributed enterprise at prices significantly below currently offered solutions.

The Oracle Parallel Server technology demonstrated today ran on a Pentium(R) Pro-based Compaq ProLiant Server Array comprised of four 4-processor Symmetric Multi-Processor (SMP) servers managed by the UnixWare(R) Cluster Management System.

Oracle and Compaq also announced they will work together to simplify the installation and configuration of Oracle Parallel Server on Compaq platforms.

"Compaq's leadership in industry-standard servers and in delivering applications to meet the business needs of customers, uniquely qualifies them as the appropriate partner to bring Oracle7 Parallel Server to market in large departmental and branch automation segments of the market," said Jerry Baker, senior vice president of Oracle's Product and Platform Technologies Division. "Our partnership with Compaq will bring an open systems parallel server technology to the high volume marketplace."

"Oracle's demonstration of its parallel server technology on Compaq ProLiant servers reaffirms its market leadership in database technology and makes them an ideal partner for our Server Array strategy," said Gene Austin, vice president of marketing, Compaq's System Division. "Together, Oracle and Compaq can bring highly-available, reliable and resilient parallel server solutions to branch offices and distributed departments at unprecedented prices. Together, we are challenging the existing notions of midrange computing solutions."

The two companies plan to introduce products using these technologies during the second half of 1996.

About the Demonstration

Oracle7 Parallel Server running on a Compaq ProLiant Server Array will provide customers with continuous access to data on shared disks, even when a server in the array becomes unavailable. The Oracle7 Parallel Server/Compaq Server Array solution will also provide customers with near linear scalability (up to 90% per platform) by leveraging the power of multiple platforms against a single database. For maximum flexibility, the Compaq/Oracle solution enables customers to incrementally add platforms to the Server Array.

Today's demonstration is a reflection of the close working relationship between Oracle and Compaq. This relationship, strengthened last year with the establishment of the Compaq Products Division at Oracle, is continuously being developed to the benefit of customers around the world. For example, Compaq provided Oracle several early models of Compaq Pentium Pro-based multi-processing servers for the development and integration of Oracle7 Parallel Server and a future release of UnixWare.

Intelligent Integration on Compaq Servers

Since Compaq and Oracle established the Compaq Products Division at Oracle, the two companies have delivered the benefits of their combined engineering expertise with every installation of Oracle7 via Compaq SmartStart, Compaq's integration tool for configuring, installing and optimizing servers. SmartStart creates a tested, optimized and reliable database platform that is especially well suited for divisional and departmental environments.

Oracle Corp., a $3 billion company, is the world's leading supplier of software for information management, and the world's second largest software company. The company offers its database, tools and application products along with related consulting, education and support service, in more than 90 countries around the world. For more information about Oracle, please call (415) 506-7000. Oracle's World Wide Web address is http://www.oracle.com

Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal computers, offering desktop PCs, portable PCs, servers and options. Founded in 1982, the company reported 1994 worldwide sales of $10.9 billion. Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Compaq also sells directly to customers through Compaq Direct Plus at 1-800-888-5858. Compaq provides 24-hour customer support and can be reached through the Compaq forums on America Online, CompuServe, Internet (http://www.compaq.com), and Prodigy, or by calling 1-800-345-1518. -0-

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation.

CONTACT: Compaq Computer Corporation