ACADEMIA

SAN FRANCISCO -- Sun Microsystems announced another milestone in its x86 computing strategy with support from leading independent software companies for the Sun Solaris(TM) 9 OS, x86 Platform Edition. Brooks Automation, Check Point, MatrixOne, RSA Security, and SunGard joined the growing list of Sun iForce(SM) partners such as Sybase supporting Solaris-based x86 platforms. Sun is teaming with its iForce partners to deliver the industry's #1 UNIX(R) OS on x86 platforms and further increase the affordability, availability, security and manageability for network computing. Solaris is the world's most scalable, secure and available OS, with documented lower cost of operation. "Partners and customers want to extend what they've built on Solaris-based SPARC(R) servers with an identical solution on Solaris-based x86 platforms," said Stuart Wells, senior vice president, Sun Microsystems Market Development Organization. "Our partners are able to leverage the Solaris platform to gain market share. In turn, these partners are helping Sun succeed in raising the bar and responding to customers who tell us cost savings are key, but not at the expense of security, reliability, scalability, interoperability and predictability -- the hallmarks of Solaris." The Solaris 9 OS x86 Platform Edition delivers more than 300 new features and high value applications for deploying scalable, available and secure solutions right out of the box. With Solaris software and Sun's Project Orion, Sun delivers an enterprise class OS underpinning an open, integratable Web services stack. Partners can build from this solid base, to address their current customer needs and create new markets by further complementing Solaris OS functionality through their unique applications. "By extending the performance and reputation of Solaris 9 to the x86 server market, Sun and Matrix One can help customers reduce spending earlier in the product lifecycle, and decrease the time and cost between a great idea and time to market," said Mark O'Connell, president and CEO, MatrixOne. "We applaud Sun's decision as we continue to deepen our alliance and explore more affordable ways for our customers to leverage technology and turn innovation into tangible, profitable results." "RSA Security is pleased to support the launch of the x86 platform," said Joe Uniejewski, senior vice president, Web access management division at RSA Security. "Solaris-based x86 servers running RSA Security solutions help customers by reducing the overall cost of the technology investment and increasing the reliability, security and performance of the enterprise." "As a long-standing Sun partner, we applaud their efforts in bringing to market Solaris on the x86 architecture," said Farzad Tari, director of business development for Check Point Software Technologies. "Sun is providing customers with a proven OS on the x86 architecture as an affordable and flexible platform, with a reduced overall acquisition cost." Pricing and Availability Sun is shipping x86 systems that include a Solaris OS license. For more information see http://www.sun.com/lx50 . -- Licenses start at $99 for commercial deployment. The Solaris 9 OS download is available at http://wwws.sun.com/software/download . Sun is offering attractive license terms permitting re-distribution by OEMs. -- Sun provides support for the Solaris x86 Platform Edition. Full licensing and support information is available at http://www.sun.com/service/support/sw_only/solaris1.html . -- The Free Solaris Binary License Program for non-commercial use and use by non-profit organizations is described at http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/binaries . -- Source code can be licensed to customers.