Compaq and its plans in the Alpha Itanium transition and the perspectives of the Hewlett-Packard mergerFrankfurt 28 November 2001 In the Platinum Forum, on November 28, Compaq disclosed its road map from Alpha to Itanium and the future of its operating systems as well as the perspectives of the planned merger with Hewlett-Packard. High-Level representatives from Compaq and partners presented their view of the situation. The opening session started Josef Blank, Compaq, Manager HPC. The keynote gave Rich Marcello, Vice President, General Manager High Performance Systems, USA. The Intel Itanium strategy presented Christian Ganz, Intel. First Tom Yeats, Compaq, Director High Performance Servers EMEA highlighted the AlphaServer Systems Roadmap and then that of Tru64 Unix. The future of OpenVMS operating system described Bob Blatz, Compaq. The Oracle Partner strategy was the title of Wolfgang Ehrentalers' talk, Oracle. In parallel Manfred Leyendecker, Compaq, discussed Compaqs' Global Service Strategy. A users story gave Detlef Bolz, SAP SI, SAP on Alpha. Andreas Teichert, Compaq, looked for the server consolidation. The day ended with the Compaq Storage Works Strategy, Johannes Schroeder, Compaq and the Alpha HPTC (High-Performance Technical Computing) presented by Martin Walker, Compaq. More than 180 participants gathered in Frankfurt. In this special I will concentrate on decision for Itanium, the transition from Alpha to Itanium and the reasons for the planned Hewlett-Packard merger.
Keynote: Compaq Strategy, Vision and Commitment
Rich Marcello, Vice President
and General Manager High Performance Systems, Compaq, USA,
presented the reasons for stopping the Compaq Alpha EV8
development, the future of the different operating systems, the
time schedule for support and the reasons for the
Hewlett-Packard merger.
Improving the High Performance Server Business Model
In June, 2001, Compaq decided to converge all 64-bit
enterprise servers over time to Itanium Processor Family (IPF)
architecture. Intel acquires Compaq 64-bit Alpha-based
technology, tools and resources to enhance IPF. Intel and Compaq
join resources and investment to port the complete Compaq
operating system environments and application portfolios to
Itanium-based enterprise servers. This decision was sufficient
for OpenVMS, industry standard servers and NonStop Himalaya.
The operating system issue challenging, as Tru64 Unix reached #4
market position, 7% share with possible growth to 10%. But is
was difficult to reach #1 or #2 position, greater than 30%
share, in the near future - primarily because of ISV portfolio.
With the Hewlett-Packard merger announced on September 4, 2001,
the new company would offer customers the world's best
enterprise Unix for Itanium architecture. The best technologies
from HP-UX and Tru64 Unix will converge to a new Unix, the best
expertise in Unix from both companies will be combined and the
support from ISVs will increase, as they only have to support
one Unix on Itanium. OpenVMS will be ported to Itanium and its
application portfolio will be migrated to Itanium, especially
the ISV solutions.
The Alpha Roadmap
Rich Marcello described the future of the Compaq Alpha
processor. Compaq is committed to the Alpha system up to the EV7
architecture. The EV68 is still delivered. The EV7 will be
shipped end of 2002/beginning 2003. The EV79 is scheduled for
the 2003/2004 time frame. The transition period is planned from
2003 to 2007. Rich Marcello mentioned that the processor can be
delivered afterwards. He said: "We will continue to sell our
Alpha systems as long as there is customer demand with support
continuing to extend to a minimum of five years beyond that."
The transition period for the Itanium will start in 2003, surely
with the Madison processor. In 2004 Itanium-based system
approach parity with Alpha servers and will offer an attractive
upgrade to EV7 customers in 2005.
The Operating System Roadmap
Tru64 operating system will be enhanced in the upcoming release,
additional enhancements are committed through 2006. Compaq
pointed to a support of Tru64 Unix on Alpha up to 2010.
Rich Marcello: "We intend to converge leadership technologies
from both HP-UX and Tru64 Unix." Her he listed RAS
functionality, clustering, performance oriented features, System
Management, file and storage management, networking and others.
The assured migration path for customers and ISVs means source
compatible upgrades from Tru64 Unix and the long-term continued
support.
OpenVMS will be ported to Itanium starting with version 7.3-x in
2002. The booting on IPF is planned for 2nd half of 2002, the
shipment first half of 2003 and the updates in 2nd half of 2003.
Here the transition phase is the same as with Tru64 Unix, 2003
to 2007. Compaq is committed to future releases, continued
enhancements and support up to 2010.
Communications with Customers
Compaq announced to deepen its communication with the customers
and integrate key customer program across Tru64 Unix and OpenVMS
building on best practices. They plan customer councils and
forums as well as partner communications and one on one
marketing. Additionally Compaq starts an AlphaServer Customer
Assurance Program. A guarantee is available for customers who
purchase new AlphaServer systems expecting to transition to IPF
systems. One is the Money back customer satisfaction guarantee
on IPF-based systems. Financial assistance and protection with
attractive leasing and guarantee for hardware and software. Rich
Marcello: "On Itanium processor family-based system purchases we
will provide transition support with workshops, white papers,
toolsets, and technical resources plus World Wide Expertise
Centers for testing ISV and custom code."
The
PowerPoint presentations are accessible via:
http://www.compaq.de/news/veranstaltungen/platinum/
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