NEC's 16 Itanium Processor Based Prototype IA-64 Server Running 64-bit SQL Server on 64-bit Windows Operating System - Product Development

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 29, 1999

NEC announced Wednesday that it is developing a new 64-bit enterprise server, capable of supporting up to 16 Intel Itanium processors that are based on the brand-new IA-64 architecture.

The server's prototype is successfully running Microsoft's 64-bit Windows operating system at NEC's research and development site in Fuchu, Tokyo.

Furthermore, the company, in close collaboration with Microsoft and Intel, has successfully ported Microsoft's 64-bit SQL Server to NEC's prototype server installed on Microsoft's Redmond, WA campus.

The system adopted NEC's original high-reliability chipset which is scalable and optimized for use with 16 Intel Itanium processors. This is the first report of an Itanium processor based system of this size booting 64-bit Windows. NEC is planning to ship this new platform in the second half of year 2000.

"This is a very important first step in the market for high performance and availability ultra high end server with the combination of Itanium processors, 64-bit Windows and 64-bit SQL Server," said Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Associate Senior Vice President, NEC. "It would not be possible without close work with Intel, Microsoft and other industry leaders."

"With NEC's long-time focus and expertise in the mainframe and enterprise class server segments, we welcome milestones like these so quickly after we announced first IA-64 silicon samples just over two months ago," said Mike Fister, VP and GM of Intel's Enterprise Server Group. "NEC's demonstrated server technology with Intel Itanium processors and related technologies will help to enable the IA-64 architecture to expand rapidly into mission critical areas of the enterprise."

"Microsoft is pleased with NEC's achievement in developing a scalable, reliable IA-64 server," said Deborah Willingham, Vice President, Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft Corp. "In the future, the powerful combination of 64-bit SQL Server, 64-bit Windows, and NEC's 16-way servers will enable support for the largest mission-critical applications of our mutual enterprise customers."

This server has many features that enhance scalability, reliability, availability and manageability. With the company's experiences in mission-critical mainframe and supercomputer development, the system meets the requirements of enterprise servers that are placed in the center of the Internet computing. NEC recently announced its new business strategy around the Internet technology, referred to as "Invitation to the Internet."

NEC Corporation pioneered the concept of C&C, the integration of Computers and Communications, and is the only company in the world to be counted among top ranking corporations spanning the wide range of fields essential for this vision of multimedia: computers, communications and electron devices. Employing in excess of 150,000 people around the world, NEC saw net sales in fiscal year 1998-99 amount to 4,759 billion yen (approx. US$40 billion). FMI: http://www.nec-global.com.