SAN FRANCISCO (02/16/2000) - It's not being released at the Windows 2000 Expo here this week, but Microsoft's Windows 2000 Datacenter received a couple of shots in the arm Tuesday.
Unisys and Compaq announced they will team up to deliver Unisys Cellular Multiprocessing-based 32-processor platforms for Windows 2000 Datacenter, a high-end version of the operating system that is due for release about 120 days after Windows 2000 launches.
While Microsoft is pinning its enterprise hopes on Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Datacenter is the heavy-duty system that company officials and observers say is critical if the company wants to be a serious player in the line-of-business and e-commerce arenas.
Unisys officials said the deal will mean $400 million to their company over the next two years. Unisys will build the systems, which will be sold under Compaq's ProLiant brand.
"Together, Compaq, Unisys, and Microsoft are delivering industry standards-based technology that can meet even the most demanding customer needs," Jim Allchin, senior vice president in charge of Windows 2000, said in a statement.
The final agreement between Unisys and Compaq will be hammered out in the next 60 days, the two companies said.
Meanwhile, Microsoft unveiled the Windows Datacenter Program, which will include a joint-support team with server vendors; system testing and qualification; maintenance and change control for hardware and software updates; and a Microsoft Certified Support Center (MCSC) for Datacenter requirements.
The joint support team, which will include Microsoft and server vendor representatives at a single point of contact, is aimed at eliminating "finger-pointing" among support providers, according to Microsoft.
Under the new testing requirements, servers will have to endure a 30-day stress test, among other qualifications, in order to meet Windows 2000 Datacenter certification, Microsoft officials said.
Compaq, Dell Computer, Unisys, Amdahl, Data General, EMC, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Hitachi, NEC, and Stratus Computer have all signed on to participate in the Windows Datacenter Program, Microsoft said.
Microsoft Corp., in Redmond, Wash., is at http://www.microsoft.com. Unisys Corp., in Blue Bell, Penn., is at http://www.unisys.com. Compaq Computer Corp., in Houston, is at http://www.compaq.com.
Bob Trott is an InfoWorld associate news editor based in Seattle.