Unisys Introduces Servers Specially Configured To Optimize SAP R/3 Response Time, Featuring Performance Warranty
Unisys Corporation has introduced Windows NT-based Aquanta ES5000 servers specially configured to optimize the performance of SAP R/3, one of the world's most widely used suites of enterprise business solutions.
The configurations feature a warranty that the systems will deliver an average OLTP response time of less than two seconds for all transactions.
Key customer benefits of the optimized server program include reliable performance, on-time installation, a fixed price for warranted performance and reduced risk. In particular, the large-scale configurations reflect Unisys mainframe-heritage skills in bringing enterprise-class scalability to solutions running in the Microsoft Windows NT computing environment.
"Unisys is leveraging years of experience delivering data center solutions to now move Windows NT further up in the enterprise. These optimized servers are extending the benefits of that initiative to users of SAP R/3 software," said Robert Dorin, research director at the Boston-based Aberdeen Group. "Its partnerships with Microsoft and SAP enable Unisys to effectively test, optimize and package Windows NT-based R/3 solutions for the enterprise. The performance warranties are evidence of the confidence Unisys has in these partnerships."
"With an exclusive focus on SAP R/3 solutions, we have developed an in-depth understanding of what it takes to get the best performance from SAP R/3 software," said Rhod Joyce, president, Value Stream Engineering, an implementer of SAP solutions based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. "We believe that the Unisys optimized servers bring enterprise-class performance and scalability for large-user SAP R/3 implementations in a Windows NT environment."
Fixed-price configurations Unisys Aquanta ES5000 servers optimized for SAP R/3 software are available in configurations supporting 50, 100, 250 and 500 users:
The 50-user configuration includes an Aquanta ES5043 server with two 500-MHz Intel Pentium III Xeon processors (expandable to four processors), Windows NT preloaded, 1024 MBytes of memory, 45 GBytes of disk and a tape device for backing up the disk, unattended, within three hours. The street price is $38,000.
The 100-user configuration includes an expandable rack-mounted Aquanta ES5045R four-way server with Windows NT preloaded, 4096 MBytes of memory and an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) device. External disk storage is configured separately. The street price is $52,000.
The 250-user configuration contains multiple Aquanta ES5043R and ES5045R servers in a single rack - a database server and three application servers, each including four 500-MHz Intel Pentium III Xeon processors. Each server includes 2048 Mbytes of memory. External disk storage is configured separately. The street price is $145,000.
The 500-user configuration, consisting of three expandable racks, includes one Aquanta ES5045R database server with 3,072 Mbytes of EDO memory with ECC and five Aquanta ES5043R servers with 2,048 Mbytes of memory. To support maximum application availability, the ES5045R provides an uninterrupted exchange of data over a high-volume network as well as CPU failover and redundant, hot-swap components. External disk storage is configured separately. The street price is $225,000.
"Unisys has embraced the challenge of bringing mainframe-class scalability, availability, performance ease of administration and interoperability to solutions based on the Windows NT operating environment," said G.W. Smith, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Business Solutions, Unisys Computer Systems. "SAP R/3 software is one of the industry's best examples of a truly business-critical, enterprise-wide application that can benefit from the added value Unisys provides. Servers configured to optimize the performance of SAP R/3, together with Unisys implementation services, evolve from and extend our corporate-wide, strategic commitment to enterprise-class Windows NT."
Aquanta ES5000 servers optimized for SAP R/3 applications are warranted to deliver average OLTP response times for all transactions of less than two seconds and to complete 80 percent of all dialog steps within two seconds. If the performance criteria are not met, Unisys will make the necessary corrections to the system to bring its performance within the committed levels at no additional cost to the client. Special conditions apply.
Drawing on both proven expertise in building large-scale, mission-critical systems and a 15-year partnership with Microsoft, Unisys delivers the industry's most comprehensive range of information and support services, solutions and enterprise server technologies to help customers deploy the Windows NT operating system for enterprise computing. Through this focus on enterprise-class solutions, Unisys enables its customers to realize the economy and ease of use afforded by Windows NT and other Microsoft technologies while enjoying the availability, scalability, manageability, security and interoperability they expect in mission-critical business computing.
Unisys is more than 33,000 employees helping customers in 100 countries apply information technology to solve their business problems. Unisys solutions are based on a broad portfolio of global information services including electronic business, systems integration including custom and "repeatable" application solutions, outsourcing, Microsoft Windows NT services, network services, and multivendor maintenance and support, coupled with enterprise-class servers and associated middleware, software and storage. Repeatable solutions are focused on key vertical markets including financial services, transportation, telecommunications, government, publishing, and other commercial markets. The company is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, in the Greater Philadelphia area. For more information on the company, access the Unisys home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.unisys.com.