News release

Compaq Delivers the ProLiant BL e-Class Server Blades, the First Modular Server Architecture Designed for Adaptive Infrastructures

BL Line Joins Compaq's Broad Adaptive Infrastructure Offerings to Revolutionize Data Center

Delivering on its adaptive infrastructure strategy, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced the availability of the ProLiant BL e-Class, the first tier of the new Compaq ProLiant BL Line of industry-standard server blades. The ProLiant BL e-Class is the first ultra-dense server blade architecture engineered for the enterprise, enabling customers to pack 280 servers into a standard 42U rack. The ProLiant BL e-Class was designed for achieving efficiencies in traditional corporate data centers, as well as xSP environments, and extends customers' critical IT resources through rapid deployment, virtual presence and control, and plug-and-play serviceability. These new capabilities can save valuable IT staff time and reduce new server deployment times from hours to minutes.

Also announced today are the first new releases of the ProLiant Essentials software for ProLiant servers and the next generation 1U (one Unit) ProLiant DL360 server with Integrated Lights-Out capability (see accompanying announcement).

A key differentiator in Compaq's adaptive infrastructure blueprint is the ability to automate system provisioning and dynamically scale resources. Compaq is taking the first step in delivering this capability with the introduction of the ProLiant Essentials Rapid Deployment Pack, which was designed in conjunction with the ProLiant BL Line, to significantly reduce the time, resources and costs associated with large-scale server deployments in ultra-dense data centers.

"Compaq is effecting a sea change in the data center with our adaptive infrastructure strategy. In a constantly changing business environment, we are addressing customers' needs for reduced costs, greater flexibility, and increased agility," said Mary McDowell, senior vice president and general manager, Compaq Industry Standard Server Group. "With the availability of the ProLiant BL e-Class, Compaq has taken a major stride in delivering a revolutionary server architecture that provides rapid provisioning and reprovisioning, and unsurpassed efficiency for front-end computing."

"At Starbucks, we have relied on Compaq ProLiant server technology for more than seven years because it has consistently addressed the rapidly changing needs of our business," said Kenneth Stringer, vice president, IT Global Shared Services for Starbucks. "Today, Compaq has done it again with the introduction of the Compaq ProLiant BL e-Class. Compaq's new blade architecture, with its new ultra-dense form factor and massive scalability, allows Starbucks to reduce the need to build larger data centers while at the same time allowing us to expand the life of our current resources at a significant cost avoidance. The innovative blade design is exactly what we need—it's the right thing at the right time."

Delivering on the Adaptive Infrastructure Blueprint

The availability of the Compaq ProLiant BL e-Class blade servers marks the delivery of the first modular server architecture designed for adaptive computing. The ProLiant BL e-Class server blades provide power-efficient performance for front-end Web serving, utility serving, and as computational cluster nodes. The new ProLiant BL e-Class is based on a modular architecture consisting of:

• Ultra-dense power/performance server blades - the ProLiant BL10e offers true server scalability in a slim package consisting of a single Intel Ultra-Low Voltage Pentium III processor, up to 1 GB of ECC memory, 30 GB of disk storage, and two 10/100 Ethernet connections. Customers can deploy twenty ProLiant BL10e server blades in a 3U enclosure, enabling up to 280 blades in a 42U rack.
• Enterprise class blade enclosure - delivers the highest levels of availability and management in a 3U chassis that supports redundant hot-plug power and cooling, network connections, and intelligent embedded technology that enables customers to manage both Microsoft Windows® 2000 and Linux operating systems within the same enclosure. Customers will have virtual presence and control capability of the enclosure and individual blades through an Integrated Administrator module.
• Flexible deployment and investment protection - the ProLiant BL e-Class was designed with a range of interconnect options, which provides a choice of network connectivity, cable reduction, and more efficient setup and management. The enclosure fits into a standard 42-U rack, can coexist with traditional servers and storage, and will be forward-compatible with future generations of ProLiant BL e-Class servers, providing additional investment protection.

Built on industry-standard technology, the ProLiant BL e-Class achieves new levels of efficiency and cost savings in the data center by balancing power, performance and space utilization. The result is an innovative new architecture that delivers flexible and highly adaptable infrastructure solutions that address customers' dynamic workloads, and enables them to reallocate resources based on demand, thus reducing idle computing cycles.

Compaq will continue to expand the multi-tiered ProLiant BL server portfolio throughout 2002 and beyond with future offerings such as robust, high-performance 2-way and 4-way blades for more demanding and complex enterprise applications.

End-to-End Solutions for Adaptive Infrastructures

In addition to Compaq's extensive array of existing ProLiant-based services, Compaq Global Services has integrated the Rapid Deployment Pack and the ProLiant BL e-Class into several new consultative offerings, which provide essential planning, design and implementation services for the new Compaq ProLiant BL server line and existing ProLiant ML/DL servers. Packaged lifecycle support solutions will also be delivered through CarePaq and CarePaq Priority Plans.

To ensure broader adaptability and protect customers' existing investments, Compaq is also working with ISV partners that provide automated provisioning tools for specialized applications or operating environments to develop and test new solutions for the ProLiant BL Line. By working with a broad array of partners such as Altiris, Ensim, Jareva, PlateSpin, TurboLinux, and Xevo, Compaq seeks to complement and extend its existing Compaq offerings with new solutions such as rapid provisioning and other value-added capabilities. F5 Networks and Compaq have also worked together to ensure seamless integration of robust load balancing capabilities for the ProLiant BL Line. The ProLiant BL e-Class is the first step in delivering a complete portfolio offering of power and performance for the enterprise.

Pricing and Availability

The Compaq ProLiant BL e-Class is available today. Pricing for a single ProLiant BL10e starts at $1,799; ten packs of blades start at $17,091. Compaq Global Services offering for the ProLiant BL e-Class starts at $49 for a warranty upgrade, and ranges to custom quoted lifecycle services and support options. For more information on the solutions announced today, please visit www.compaq.com/proliant/ble-class.

About Adaptive Infrastructure

In December 2001, Compaq announced its blueprint for adaptive infrastructure that enables organizations to adapt to changing market conditions, conserve valuable human and technology resources, and rapidly respond to their customers in a dynamic business environment. As a critical part of this blueprint, the new ProLiant BL e-Class, software and services enable customers to manage dynamic workloads, maximize compute cycles, adapt to change, and reallocate resources based on business needs—not on IT spending cycles—in multi-tiered environments.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a leading global provider of enterprise technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, and desktop and portable personal computers that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.