New Servers: Micron Electronics Ships Entry-Level Workgroup Servers with Intel's New Pentium III Processor - Micron Electronics' Micron NetFRAME 2100, 2101, 3100 and 3101 servers now available with Intel's Pentium III - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, March 1, 1999

Micron Electronics, Inc., a leading direct vendor of PCs, servers and notebooks, Friday announced that it is shipping Micron NetFRAME entry-level workgroup servers with the new Intel Pentium III processor. The Micron NetFRAME 2100, 2101, 3100 and 3101 servers are now available in single- or dual-processor configurations with Pentium III processors running at 500 MHz or 450 MHz.

In addition to a boost in performance, the Pentium III processor improves the NetFRAME servers' already high level of manageability. The Pentium III processor includes a built-in serial number that can be leveraged by information management software for asset tracking and management. Another manageability feature of the NetFRAME servers is the Emergency Management Port, which enables server management access from anywhere under any condition, including proactive monitoring of server components to ensure maximum uptime. With Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server, which is included with the NetFRAME 3100 and 2100, NetFRAME server customers gain a high level of return-on-investment through performance, reliability, manageability, connectivity and security. Furthermore, Windows NT Server 4.0 provides the easiest migration path to Windows 2000, the next generation of Windows NT. "With the new Pentium III processors, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Server and Micron's portfolio of services such as Micron University and MPower, Micron can offer mid-market businesses and public-sector agencies a client/server computing solution that leads the industry in performance and manageability -- at the industry's best prices," said Cory Devor, Micron's vice president of server and storage development." "Microsoft is delighted that Micron has chosen Windows NT Server 4.0 for its newest NetFRAME servers," said Edmund Muth, group product manager at Microsoft. "Our mutual customers are the real winners as they will benefit from the proven reliability and scalability of Windows NT Server 4.0 in a variety of workloads including business process automation, enterprise messaging, web commerce and knowledge management." Along with Micron's NetFRAME servers come a unique portfolio of services designed to maximize customers' computing investments. One such service is a free one-year enrollment in Micron University, an online education resource that can reduce the training costs of network administrators as well as users. Another service, MPower, is designed to make the lifecycle management of computer equipment easier. MPower includes flexible financing, trade-in of older equipment -- including that of competitors -- and environmentally safe recycling of older equipment. The NetFRAME 2100 and 2101 entry-level servers offer mid-market customers the greatest affordability. Their built-in expandability includes the option of a second processor in addition to the standard Pentium III processor running at 450 MHz, five expansion slots, ten drive bays and an integrated RAID upgrade option. Both the NetFRAME 2100 and 2101 feature 512 KB of internal L2 ECC cache, 64 MB ECC 100 MHz SDRAM, a 9 GB Ultra Wide LVDS hard drive, an integrated Ultra Wide SCSI-3 dual channel controller, a 32X (max speed, 17X min) CD ROM drive and an Intel PRO/100 Server Adapter. Both also come with Intel LANDesk Server Manager and an Emergency Management Port Console. The NetFRAME 2100, as configured above, is priced at $3899, and includes a ten-user license for Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 and free NOS support that includes three incident resolutions during the first year. Micron's NetFRAME customers choose Microsoft Windows NT Server for its manageability, reliability, security and connectivity. The NetFRAME 2101, priced at $2699 as configured above, ships without an operating system, allowing customers to install NOS software of their choice. The NetFRAME 2101 can also ship with the Novell NetWare 5.0 network operating system. The NetFRAME 3100 and 3101 workgroup servers are designed to grow with a small or medium-size organization. Their built-in expandability includes the option of a second processor in addition to the standard Pentium III processor running at 500 MHz, five expansion slots, eight drive bays and an integrated RAID upgrade option. Both the NetFRAME 3100 and 3101 feature 512 KB of internal L2 ECC cache, 128 MB ECC 100 MHz SDRAM, a 9 GB Ultra Wide LVDS hard drive, an integrated Ultra Wide SCSI-3 dual channel controller, a 32X (max speed 17X min speed) CD ROM drive and an Intel PRO/100 Server Adapter. Both also come with Intel LANDesk Server Manager and an Emergency Management Port Console. The NetFRAME 3100 features Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 with a ten-user license and free NOS support that includes three incident resolutions during the first year. The NetFRAME 3100 configuration as detailed above is priced at $4499. The NetFRAME 3101 can ship without an operating system, allowing customers to install NOS software of their choice, or it can ship with the Novell NetWare 5.0 network operating system. The NetFRAME 3101 as detailed above, without NOS software, is priced at $3299. All of the NetFRAME server products can be purchased on the web at www.micronpc.com or via a toll-free telephone call. The NetFRAME products all include the 5-year/3-year Micron Power limited warranty and Micron's 7x24 Dedicated Server Technical Support and one-year of next-business-day onsite service. Micron plans to offer servers with the Pentium III processor at 550 MHz as soon as it is available from Intel. Micron Electronics, Inc., a recognized industry leader and direct vendor known for its award-winning products and services, develops, manufactures and markets high-performance, competitively priced computing solutions to consumers, small businesses, commercial and public sector buyers. Its superior customer service and toll-free technical support is available to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Micron offers value and convenience through direct sales via the Internet (www.micronpc.com), by phone (800/249-1179) or by fax (208/893-7240). SpecTek, a division of Micron Electronics, Inc., processes and markets various grades of DRAM products under the SpecTek brand name. Micron Electronics, Inc. is majority owned by Micron Technology, Inc.