IBM RS/6000 S80 Server and DB2 Set New Performance Record for SAP R/3

Business Wire, Dec 7, 1999

SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 7, 1999--

IBM today announced a record-breaking Standard Application Benchmark result for SAP(TM) R/3(R) Release 4.0B inter-enterprise business solutions on the RS/6000 Model S80 Enterprise Server.

The S80 server, with IBM's DB2 Universal Database, supported 1,708 Sales and Distribution (SD) benchmark users in the two-tier client/server benchmark configuration. These results follow the S80's record-breaking three-tier client/server benchmark performance, achieved in September 1999.

"IBM has demonstrated the outstanding scalability and price/performance of a total IBM infrastructure - server, database and storage," said Cecelia Marrese, worldwide RS/6000 ERP segment manager. "Together with our industry-leading service and support, this rock-solid solution allows customers to simplify their business relationships and improve productivity."

The two-tier implementation, with the applications and database on the same server, is ideal for customers who want an economical solution. It is especially appropriate for small- and medium-sized businesses. Customers needing increased scalability can help protect their investments by upgrading to a three-tier environment, in which the applications and database are on separate servers.

"These benchmark results just confirm what we've experienced in-house," said Len Jesse, manager, SAP Basis Administration, Komatsu America. "We've been live with SAP and DB2 on the RS/6000 platform for several years and the solution is extremely powerful. The performance and reliability of the system exceed all of our demands --nothing ever fails."

SAP R/3 is a component of the mySAP.comT Internet business strategy, which provides personalized solutions on demand. R/3 is one of the industry's leading client/server business software solutions developed to assist companies with reducing costs and improving efficiency by linking core business processes across the enterprise.

"DB2 Universal Database offers the best value in the marketplace today," said Jim Kelly, IBM vice president of marketing, IBM Data Management Solutions. "Combining the proven strengths of DB2 with the reliability of RS/6000 servers helps ensure a successful technology infrastructure for running SAP solutions." IBM also recently announced a Performance Protection Plan for SAP R/3 on RS/6000. The program is designed to eliminate the guesswork involved in selecting a server that will run enterprise workload. The protection program will ensure that the IBM-sized and recommended RS/6000 system will meet agreed upon enterprise workload expectations or IBM will upgrade the customer's processor, memory or both at no charge.

Benchmark Details

In the record-breaking two-tier SAP Standard Application Benchmark announced today, the RS/6000 ran SAP R/3 Release 4.0B for sales and distribution and DB2 Universal Database V6.1 on the AIX 4.3.3 operating system. The tested configuration included a 24-way RS/6000 Model S80 with 64 GB of memory as the central server, and 400GB of IBM Serial Storage Architecture disk. The measured throughput was 513,000 dialog steps per hour with an average dialog response time of 1.98 seconds, and an average CPU utilization of 99 percent on the central server. This is equivalent to the business processing of 171,000 line items per hour.

This benchmark was conducted in Poughkeepsie NY, and fully complies with the benchmark regulations issued by SAP AG and has been audited and certified by SAP. For more information on IBM and SAP solutions visit http://www.ibm.com/erp/sap/.> IBM, RS/6000, DB2 and AIX are registered trademarks or trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Limited. Other company, product and service names, which may be denoted by a double asterisk (**) may be trademarks or service marks of others.

SAP, R/3, mySAP.com and all SAP product and service names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG. -0-

More information about IBM can be found at: http://www.ibm.com

More information about the RS/6000 Performance Protection Plan for SAP R/3 can be found at: http://www.rs6000.ibm.com/solutions/erp/erp_solution_series.html

More information about SAP can be found at: http://www.sap.com