HP introduces new mid-range servers

The HP e3000 N-class server is a mid-range and high-end system with up to 35 percent more power than its highest performing predecessor -- the 12-way 997 server. It offers 220, 330, 440 and 550 MHz processors, up to 4-way multi-processing and supports up to 16 GByte of memory. The HP e3000 N-class server is one of the most cost-effective alternatives to consolidate several older servers into one.

Both the HP e3000 A- and N-class servers are excellent candidates for replacing aging HP e3000 servers that will soon be exiting their support life -- for example the HP e3000 series 9x7 servers which will exit support in April 2002. By consolidating a number of older servers into a new HP e3000 A- or N-class server, customers may find that the reductions in their cost of support can fund a substantial portion of the new server's purchase price.

The HP e3000 A- and N-class servers use a state-of-the-art bus structure designed to support several Precision Architecture RISC (PA-RISC) processors today and generations of higher frequency processors into the future. When a customer needs that future burst of growth, it's easy to add more or faster processors, more I/O and even more memory. These reliability, performance and scalability features, along with high availability and proactive support, help assure that the HP e3000 solution offers 24x7 uptime from any time zone in the world.

Both the HP e3000 A- and N-class servers feature built-in Image/SQL database management software to ensure data security without an expensive third-party database. The Image/SQL database provides industry-standard SQL interfaces as well as an online transaction management system that is tuned to the strength and scalability of MPE/iX.

The HP e3000 A- and N-class servers come bundled with MPE/iX Release 7.0. Later this year, HP plans to offer MPE/iX Release 7.0 Express 1, which will offer benefits for customers with high-end applications.

MPE/iX 7.0 and the HP Webwise MPE/iX secure Web server running on the A- and N-class servers deliver seamless Internet connectivity and interoperability with UNIX, , Microsoft Windows NT nd other major Internet and intranet platforms. Complementing the servers and operating system, the HP Webwise Internet suite now includes the Lutris Enhydra 3.5 Java/XML open source application server to be sold and supported by Lutris Technologies.

StairMaster, a leading manufacturer of fitness equipment, tested the HP e3000 A-class server. "We are very impressed that HP's latest low-end system can replace what used to be considered a mid-range box," said Bob Rah, StairMaster's IT manager. "HP's long tradition of forward compatibility is a primary reason StairMaster has been so loyal to the HP e3000 for so many years."

Cognos Inc., a vendor of enterprise business intelligence solutions, tested the HP e3000 N-class. "We were very impressed with the speed of the HP e3000 N-class," said Conrad Whittall, Marketing Manager of Application Development Tools for Cognos Inc. "In over 6,000 tests with our PowerHouse software on the N-class we did not encounter any problems at all. We have seen performance improvements of an order of magnitude over our current HP e3000 Series 9x9KS Servers."

The HP e3000 A- and N-class servers are available immediately with estimated U.S. street prices (including server, memory, MPE/iX operating system, Image/SQL database and an unlimited user license) beginning at $15,900(2) for A-class servers and $69,900(2) for N-class servers.