HP Once Again Raises the Stakes for UNIX Servers; Introduces Industry's Fastest 4-Way UNIX Server

Business Wire, Nov 28, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28, 2000

HP L3000 Server is Ideal for Service Providers and

Business-critical Internet Applications

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) today introduced the HP L3000 server which delivers record performance and throughput for the rapidly growing entry-level UNIX(R) server market. The HP L3000 server system extends the highly successful HP 9000 L-Class family with innovative pricing and functionality for Internet and business-critical applications. With the release of the HP L3000 server, customers are able to deploy an always-on Internet infrastructure, delivering e-services and enterprise capabilities that previously were available only with higher-priced systems.

"HP today is delivering the solution that is a generation ahead of the market," said Mark Hudson, worldwide marketing manager, HP Business Systems and Technology Organization. "With the entry-level L3000 server and the recently announced Superdome system at the high end, HP offers customers the best portfolio of UNIX servers, with the industry-leading capabilities of HP-UX11i(1) at every price point."

World's Leading Performance

The HP L3000 server system provides the best transaction performance of any 4-way server, with 34,200 tpmC(2), and the best Web server performance in its class with 3,835 for the SPECWeb99 benchmark, 2X that of the closest competitive system(3). This powerful technology, coupled with the highest I/O bandwidth in a low-end server(4), makes the HP L3000 server ideal for applications such as media streaming and broadband solutions.

Powered by up to four PA-8600 processors, the system also packs superior power per square inch. For example, a single rack of five HP L3000 servers can handle 171,000 transactions per minute -- a performance and capacity level that requires multiple racks from other vendors.

The HP L3000 server also has a carrier grade option which features NEBS (Network Equipment Building System) Level 3 certification and -48VDC power supply for mission-critical telecommunications solutions. This enables service providers to deploy the system in Internet data centers or telco central offices without software modification and re-certification.

"RealAudio 8 and RealVideo 8 deliver the best digital media experience at the broadest range of bandwidths," said Tom Hull, vice president Sales, RealNetworks, Inc. "With our streaming media technology running on HP's L3000 server platform, customers will experience extraordinary performance for demanding Internet environments, with stress-free availability, scalability and manageability -- at a great price-performance point."

Revolutionary Pricing and Functionality

HP is offering the HP L3000 server with pricing that is structured for today's Internet business models. With HP's iCOD (instant capacity on demand) program, customers can now instantly add additional capacity to their servers, as their business needs grow. They pay for the additional capacity only after it is activated. HP's iCOD program is the first step toward utility computing capabilities, where customers will pay only for the computing they actually use.

The HP L3000 server has been designed to allow administrators to create dynamic virtual partitions that direct computer power where it is needed, a unique capability available only on HP servers. This feature provides the security, flexibility and availability service providers need. Combined with advanced, easy-to-use management features and enterprise-class high-availability, this system offers simple, smart and virtually stress-free Internet computing.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The HP L3000 server is available immediately with estimated U.S. street prices beginning at $39,000(5). More information on the L3000 server is available at http://www.hp.com/go/l-class.> About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services -- is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to individuals and businesses through simple appliances, useful e-services and an Internet infrastructure that's always on.

HP has 88,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $48.8 billion in its 2000 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

Note to Editors: UNIX is a registered trademark of the Open Group.

(1) HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products.

(2) Benchmark information is documented by the Transaction Processing Technology Council and is available at http://www.tpc.org. $33.27 per tpmC, benchmark solution availability date Dec. 01, 2000.

(3) SPECweb benchmark information is documented by the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation and is available at http://www.spec.org.

(4) Based on specifications published by HP, IBM, Sun.

(5) Actual prices may vary.