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Sun Expands HP Away Program With Opteron Systems

Sun Microsystems Inc announced that it is expanding the successful HP Away migration program to include a migration path to Sun's AMD Opteron processor-based workstations and servers. Sun is combining its 64-bit enterprise computing experience with the AMD Opteron processor, and providing additional value with the Solaris operating system, the Sun Java Enterprise Software, N1, Linux and the Java Desktop System, to create systems with unmatched security, scalability and availability from the desktop to the enterprise. At the heart of the HP Away migration program is the Solaris operating system, the clear alternative for HP customers frustrated with HP's lack of commitment to its UNIX operating system.

"HP is forcing customers to migrate from one platform to another, but customers are balking because HP has limited credibility with HP-UX," said Larry Singer, Sun's senior vice president, strategic insights office. "By migrating more than 150 HP customers to Sun systems running SPARC we've proven there is a demand to find a better alternative. Now for customers that want to run UNIX on x86 we're offering the advantage of cheaper, better performing, higher functioning systems with our Opteron platform."

Sun has effectively upstaged HP by offering systems that support Linux, can offer better performance, and deliver a clear path to Solaris for customers that want to run Unix. In addition, Sun is helping developers and ISVs protect their technology investments by making it easy to port from HP to Sun systems based on the AMD Opteron processor, through the Migration to Sun platforms program.

Sun offers the industry's best performing and the most complete line of AMD Opteron processor-based servers with the two processor Sun Fire V20z server and the four processor Sun Fire V40z server. The Sun Fire V40z server demonstrated best performance among all four CPU x86 servers in 2-tier SAP Sales and Distribution Standard Application Benchmark. It performs up to 23 percent better than a comparably equipped HP ProLiant Xeon-based server and up to 6.5 percent better than HP's 4-way Opteron-based server. And, Sun has worked closely with AMD to optimize the Solaris Operating System, Linux, and the Java Enterprise System-as well as Microsoft Windows-to run on the systems.

Workstation customers can also turn to Sun for AMD Opteron processor-based systems. Sun now offers leading performance with its new Sun Java Workstation W1100z and Sun Java Workstation W2100z. These systems are offered with the latest release of the Java Desktop System running either the Solaris x86 OS or Linux.

"Sun offers better value and performance on servers based on industry standard components-with the added advantage of our 64-bit heritage in operating systems and broad enterprise application support," said John Fowler, executive vice president of Sun's Network Systems Group. "We have the most complete line of Opteron servers, and more are on the way. We're the only company that delivers an enterprise proven UNIX operating system on x86 with Solaris. For customers that want to run Linux we provide systems with screaming performance and broad application support. What I'd like to say to HP customers is you can rest peacefully knowing that Sun is offering a brighter future."

Sun Highlights Customer Migrations

The HP Away program was launched last year to help offer a no-risk alternative for customers concerned by HP's announced end-of-life of its AlphaServer Tru64 platform. Then earlier this year, the program was expanded to include all HP customers using the HP-UX operating system-a lifeline to customers frustrated with HP's continued product delays and security issues.

New Migration Tools

The HP Away migration program is a shared risk model in which Sun and partners work with customers to deploy an effective migration solution. Today Sun is expanding this program with new tools and offerings targeted to help customers adopt Sun's low cost x86 solutions. Specifically, these programs are:

About Sun Microsystems Inc

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems Inc to its position as a provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com.