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

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Feb 7, 2000

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Wednesday announced that TradeMark Computer Products, a division of Bell Microproducts, has selected Sun to supply SPARC based platforms for building their Linux solutions.

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

"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," said Barbara Gordon, vice president, worldwide sales, Sun Microsystems' Microelectronics. "In certain applications where customers have selected Linux, notably in education, R&D and Internet service provider markets, they can now run on the 64-bit UltraSPARC processor."

TradeMark Computers offers four e-clipse solutions that integrate Sun's SPARCengine Ultra 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.

"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," said David Guzzi, vice president, Bell Microproducts and general manager, TradeMark Computers. "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."

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.> 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.

FMI: http://www.sun.com.