Microsoft sends Datacenter to manufacturers

Microsoft today released Windows 2000 Datacenter Server to manufacturers completing the delivery of the first platform it believes will be a serious alternative to high-end Unix systems.

The operating system will form the basis of its .Net applications aimed at creating web software for a wide range of devices. Datacenter Server is backed by a Windows Datacenter Program and will support ecommerce services and hosting environments.

Datacenter Server offers all the features found in Windows 2000 Advanced Server and includes 64Gb of memory and support for 32 processors. It also provides four-node clustering and process control for added reliability.

The product will officially be launched in San Francisco on 26 September as part of Microsoft's Enterprise 2000 event.

"We are delighted at the level of customer anticipation and industry momentum surrounding Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and the Windows Datacenter Program. The program brings together the industry's leaders to provide a high-quality, fully integrated, tested and supported solution for our customers," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft president and chief executive.

The product will only be offered through Certified Datacenter Partners such as Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Unisys.

Mitul Mehta, managing director of independent consultant TekPlus, said: "Professional services companies like Unisys are selling NT into the high end and the release of Datacenter means that Microsoft will eat further into the Unix market. Microsoft and its integrators will go out of their way to make sure this works."

Simon Moores, chairman of user group the Windows Forum, believes the platform is Wintel's silver bullet to break into the high-end server market which is traditionally dominated by Sun Microsystems.

He said: "Many of Microsoft's largest partners have been waiting in breathless anticipation for Datacenter and basing their whole strategy around the product."

But he remarked that two questions still remain: whether Datacenter's performance will rival that of Unix, and if later users will get the same level of support early adopters are likely to receive.