MetLife Pilots Loudcloud's Opsware System 3; Software System Automates Server and Application Management To Maximize Internal IT Investments

Business Wire, July 24, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2002

Loudcloud Inc., soon to be re-branded Opsware Inc., (Nasdaq:LDCL), today announced MetLife as a pilot customer of Opsware System 3, the first software system that fully automates the IT functions associated with operating and managing servers and business applications. Opsware's uniqueness lies in its built-in software operations intelligence coupled with IT process automation.

Today's IT departments face a daunting challenge: providing higher quality service at lower costs and with fewer resources. The key problems facing IT organizations include acquiring and maintaining operational expertise in an ever-increasing number of technologies; enforcing operational best practices and consistency across the organization; and managing change across hundreds of servers and software packages. To date, IT organizations have handled these issues manually, resulting in challenges such as costly operations, a high ratio of IT staff to servers managed, and a risk of poor quality due to human error. The Opsware System addresses these critical issues by automating manually intensive tasks such as large-scale server provisioning, application distribution and change management, secure release management of software updates, and asset tracking and license tracking. As a result, an IT department can more quickly deliver a consistently higher level of service at lower cost than ever before.

Explained Steve Bozzo, MetLife Vice President, IT, "MetLife maintains a stringent focus on evaluating and deploying technology that will improve operational IT efficiencies throughout the company. By offering an automated solution for selected data center functions, we are looking for Opsware System 3 not only to address needs within those data centers, but also to free our IT staff to focus on issues and projects that best use their valuable skills and knowledge."

"Managing a data center environment is a time-intensive task that, if not done correctly, can result in major systems failures and security breaches," said Ben Horowitz, CEO and president of Loudcloud. "Opsware System 3 enables enterprises to manage their servers and applications more effectively, with fewer administrators and fewer specialists. Corporations have witnessed the efficiencies we have garnered using Opsware and believe it will save them time, reduce costs and improve the overall quality of their IT operations. We are thrilled that MetLife has begun exploring how Opsware can improve its IT endeavors."

The Opsware System supports over 200 technologies including a broad range of operating systems, databases, application servers, middleware and business applications. Opsware System 3 is designed for enterprises, government agencies and service providers who have 100 or more servers under active management.

About MetLife

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. The MetLife companies serve approximately 10 million individual households in the U.S. and companies and institutions with 33 million employees and members. MetLife also has international insurance operations in 13 countries. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company's Web site at www.metlife.com.

About Loudcloud Inc.

Loudcloud Inc., soon to be re-branded Opsware Inc., is the leading provider of IT automation software, offering a complete solution for enterprises, government agencies and service providers looking to reduce costs and increase IT efficiencies. The Opsware System automates the complete IT lifecycle including provisioning, deploying, changing, scaling, securing, recovering, consolidating, auditing and reallocating servers and business applications. Opsware was the foundation of Loudcloud's software-powered managed services business and has been proven to lower costs, accelerate change and increase service quality. For more information on Opsware Inc., please visit our Web site at www.opswareinc.com or www.opsware.com.

Note to Editors: Loudcloud and Opsware are service marks and trademarks of Loudcloud, Inc. All other product names, service marks, and trademarks mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.