Sun Microsystems Announces That Trademark Computers, a Division of Bell Microproducts, Will Manufacture, Integrate and Supply Linux Solutions On SPARC Platform

Business Wire, Feb 2, 2000

Business/High Tech Editors

LinuxWorld 2000

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2000

LinuxWorld Conference &Expo (February 2, 2000) -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) today announced that TradeMark Computer Products, a division of Bell Microproducts (Nasdaq:BELM), has selected Sun to supply SPARC(TM) based platforms for building their Linux solutions.

TradeMark Computers will now sell its e-clipse(TM) line of Linux servers through the established U.S. Sun reseller channel.

&uot;TradeMark Computers allows Linux customers to take advantage of the reliability, scalability and performance offered by SPARC processor-based systems, at a competitive price point,&uot; said Barbara Gordon, vice president, worldwide sales, Sun Microsystems' Microelectronics. &uot;In certain applications where customers have selected Linux, notably in education, R& and Internet service provider markets, they can now run on the 64-bit UltraSPARC(TM) processor.&uot;

TradeMark Computers offers four e-clipse solutions that integrate Sun's SPARCengine(TM) Ultra(TM) AX family motherboards and the Red Hat 6.1 Linux package. The UltraSPARC driven e-clipse systems are produced in TradeMark's ISO-9002 facility using Sun certified graphics boards, memory options, storage devices and case styles. Both hardware and software customer support services are provided through TradeMark's technical support program.

&uot;We are pleased to be integrating Sun's UltraSPARC processor platform with the Linux operating system. This exciting combination of technology allows us to provide cost-effective Linux servers that enable customers to enjoy the optimum benefits of this open system,&uot; said David Guzzi, vice president, Bell Microproducts and general manager, TradeMark Computers. &uot;For example, the openness of Linux makes it an ideal solution when a company needs to modify a kernel or when a group of research institutions runs one OS in a heterogeneous environment.&uot;

Pricing and Availability

TradeMark Computers' Linux server platforms are now available. For more information, or to contact TradeMark Computers, go to the TradeMark World Wide Web site at: www.trademarkcomputers.com/sun/sun_default.htm.> About Bell Microproducts, Inc.

Bell Microproducts is a value-added provider of a wide range of high-technology products, solutions and services to the industrial and commercial marketplace. The company's offering includes semiconductors, computer platforms, peripherals and storage products of all types including desktop to high-end devices and subsystems to fibre channel connectivity products and SAN and backup software. Bell Microproducts is an industry-recognized specialist in storage solutions and was named Best Managed Distributor of 1999 by EBN magazine. Bell Microproducts offers more than 100 brand-name product lines, as well as its own BellStor Storage Solutions and TradeMark computer brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in the Americas. More information can be found in SEC filings or by visiting the Bell Microproducts Web site at www.bellmicro.com.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- &uot;The Network Is The Computer(TM)&uot; -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to &uot;.com&uot; their businesses. With $12.4 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Ultra, HotJava, and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Netscape Navigator is a trademark or registered trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape Navigator(TM) or Sun's HotJava(TM) browser. Type http://www.sun.com/ at the URL prompt.