This is interesting. OEM enterprise software only.
Microsoft Raising Stakes In Unix Race
Aug 10, 2000 (Tech Web - CMP via COMTEX) -- Gentleman, launch your OSes: The
next level in the performance race between Windows and Unix is at hand.
Microsoft Corp. (stock: MSFT) is releasing Windows 2000 Datacenter Server to
manufacturing Friday, capping a long development cycle and setting the stage for
a clash of the high-end enterprise platform titans.
Officials at the Redmond, Wash., software powerhouse acknowledged the RTM date
and vowed to launch formally the most sophisticated Windows operating system
ever Sept. 26.
The product will launch as part of a coming-out party for a series of enterprise
server software products, including SQL Server 2000, Application Center Server
2000, BizTalk Server 2000, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000,
Commerce Server 2000, and Host Integration Server 2000.
"This means that Microsoft now has a platform that can be taken to the highest
level of scalability," said Michel Gambier, group product manager, of Enterprise
Server Marketing at Microsoft. "We also are very confident that we can deliver
the best platform available on the high end. It takes us to another step."
Datacenter is designed for enterprises that demand high-end hardware and
software for high-traffic networks. The product sports four-node clustering,
64Gbyte memory support and support for up to 32 SMP processors. Microsoft is
targeting ISP's, companies with large data warehousing needs and transaction
processing applications.
In other words, it represents Microsoft's most serious foray to date into the
enterprise computing turf where Unix reigns.
When Microsoft completed the first three strands of Windows 2000 --
Professional, Server, and Advanced Server -- the company pledged that the
Datacenter edition would be released in mid-June. However, Beta 2 of the product
was released on May 23 to OEMs, IHVs, ISVs, and researchers.
Datacenter edition is an OEM-only product, and Microsoft executives have
declined to release pricing details, saying the matter is between Microsoft and
the computer makers.
Although several OEMs are committed to selling Datacenter edition, Microsoft has
selected Compaq Computer Corp. (stock: CPQ) as the first Datacenter Server
certified partner. Hewlett-Packard Co. (stock: HWP) and Unysis will be
designated as certified partners on Friday.
Others that have signed on to the beta process include Amdahl; Data General;
Dell Computer Corp. (stock: DELL); EMC Corp. (stock: EMC); Fujitsu, Hitachi Ltd.
(stock: HIT); IBM Corp. (stock: IBM); and NEC Corp. (stock: NIPNY).
OEMs will be receiving the software from Microsoft within the next few days,
Gambier said. He was not certain when exactly systems will begin shipping with
high-end server, because the OEMs must first pass a battery of tests.
"It is much more stringent testing than anything that has been done in the
past," he said.
Microsoft earlier this week announced a Datacenter Server application
certification program.
techweb.com
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