Hi Charles - More good news from Sunw's product divisions...
(BSNS WIRE) Sun Delivers First Four-Way Embedded SPARC Multiprocessor Board Designed for Telco and Networking OEMs
Business Editors & Computer Writers
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 6, 1998--
Ultra AXmp Board Provides Three Times Compute Density as
Comparable Office Systems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. today introduced the SPARCengine(TM)
Ultra(TM) AXmp, a board-level solution, that uniquely enables Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to develop high performance, four-way
multiprocessing embedded systems based on the SPARC(TM) processor and
Solaris(TM) operating environment combination.
Applications benefiting from this technology range from NEBS
compliant telecom adjunct servers to airport security scanners. The
SPARCengine Ultra AXmp board enables OEMs to create innovative
embedded systems with unparalleled computing power in one-third the
space of traditional servers.
"A key obstacle in embedded computing is the efficient use of
space," said Marge Breya, director of corporate marketing, Sun
Microsystems' Microelectronics Division. "By giving customers the
benefit of three times the compute density combined with the proven
performance of Sun's leading multiprocessor technology and an
innovative modular design approach, Sun has created an ideal solution
for embedded computing."
Prior to this new technology from Sun, customers needing robust
multiprocessor performance for deeply embedded industrial applications
were often forced to retrofit traditional servers originally designed
for use in the office enterprise versus the harsh environment of
embedded computing. The results of this mismatch ranged from excessive
use of central office rack mount space to limited overall integration
flexibility.
"Our new Ultra AXmp technology was designed specifically to meet
the compute density and integration needs of OEMs requiring
full-featured, robust, reliable solutions," said Breya. "Our new
products allow OEMs flexibility in the design of their systems and
they can now bring applications to the embedded compute market that
were not possible before due to space or reliability concerns."
Compute Core Technology Improves Compute Density
The Ultra AXmp board is the first in a line of flexible, compact
and rugged products that use Sun's new Compute Core Technology (CCT);
an innovative modular approach to designing boards for
high-performance, multiprocessing (MP) embedded compute applications.
The Ultra AXmp board's Compute Core Technology leverages Sun's
expertise in developing high performance, scalable servers and is the
key to this revolutionary approach. By partitioning the core
components of Sun's four-way architecture in a dense and modular
package, Sun enables unprecedented compute density and integration
flexibility to meet the diverse needs of the embedded market.
The Ultra AXmp motherboard is designed to be deployed in an
industrial, rack mount chassis in either a horizontal or vertical
orientation. This allows customers an easy upgrade to faster
processors and flexibility in selecting various I/O cards. The Ultra
AXmp board fits comfortably in a standard 5U high chassis or in a
custom chassis as small as 4U.
Rack deployment also allows OEMs to offer space conscious
solutions when space is at a premium as demonstrated by ISP server
applications co-located in telco central offices. As many as 10 Ultra
AXmp boards can be placed in a single 19-inch rack cabinet, which is
three times the number when compared to office systems. These compact
dimensions give OEMs the flexibility to design systems that meet their
packaging needs and meet the highest performance requirements.
By leveraging the PCI infrastructure, Sun enables OEMs to shorten
new product development cycles as well as lower overall system costs
with less expensive peripherals. In addition to PCI, Sun plans to
leverage its Compute Core Technology to support other industry
standard busses including compactPCI.
Superior Multiprocessing Boosts Compute and I/O Performance
With the Ultra AXmp solution, Sun is leveraging its proven
multiprocessing server technology. A key feature of this technology is
Sun's Ultra Port Architecture(TM)(UPA) system design, which enables
the aggregate CPU bus bandwidth to be increased to 3.2 GBytes per
second (three times that of a traditional MP system), via a custom
cross bar switch.
This large processor bandwidth enables scaling of up to four
UltraSPARC-II(TM) s-series microprocessor modules (currently shipping
at 250, 300 and 360MHz).
The Ultra AXmp motherboard has six 64-bit high-performance PCI
slots, four at 33 MHz and two at 66MHz. Using four peer PCI busses,
the I/O bandwidth expands to more than four times that of comparable
alternative platforms.
Webtone Reliability Delivered By the SPARC and Solaris Combination
The Ultra AXmp board is an example of Sun delivering Webtone
enabling technology to OEMs. Webtone describes Sun's vision of
delivering network computing functionality and performance with the
reliability and functionality associated with everyday dialtone. If an
OEM designs a system to act as an ISP host using other microprocessor
and operating system technologies they may not have same Webtone
reliability as the SPARC and Solaris operating environment
combination.
Sun customers select the robustness of the SPARC and Solaris
operating environment combination because it leads to lower MTTR and
MTTF (mean-time-to-repair and mean-time-to-failure), important
features in industrial and telecommunications applications.
Powerful Software Support
The Compute Core Technology supports Sun's Solaris operating
environment and is binary-compatible with the broad array of existing
SPARC applications. OEMs can take advantage of Sun's leading software
development environment used by networking and telecommunications
companies. In addition, Sun supports computer telephony integration
(CTI) through telecom software products such as CMIP, X.400 and X.500.
Pricing and Availability
The SPARCengine Ultra AXmp board is sampling today, with general
availability in the second half of 1998. Embedded configurations start
at $7,500 in volume quantities, depending on the speed and number of
UltraSPARC-II s-series modules selected.
For further information about the Compute Core Technology, the
SPARCengine Ultra AXmp board or any other offerings from Sun, contact
Sun's Microelectronics Division sales at 800/681-8845 (U.S.) or
512/434-1503 (international), or visit our Web site at
sun.com.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is
The Computer(TM)," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW),
to its position as a leading provider of high quality hardware,
software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and
expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $9 billion in
annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on
the World Wide Web at sun.com.
Note to Editors: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris,
Ultra, Ultra Port Architecture, Java and The Network Is The Computer
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in
the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are
used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of
SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture
developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems
are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool
such as Netscape Navigator or Sun's HotJava. Type sun.com
at the URL prompt.
--30--ao/sf* rn/sf
CONTACT: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Caroline Phillips, 408/544-0288
caroline.phillips@eng.sun.com
or
Thomas Associates, Inc.
Roger Knott, 650/596-2700
roger@thomaspr.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED
INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET PRODUCT
KEY: SUNFXB
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