As expected, ICL Plc is to replace its ageing Intel Corp DRS3000 and Sparc-based DRS6000 server lines with new TeamServer and SuperServer systems that use similar CPU technologies, but the firm will continue upgrading the old systems until the end of September. ICL intends to maintain its commitment to the System V.4 brand of Unix – now owned by Novell Inc – that it implemented for Sparc as DRX/NX, but will offer both Intel and Sparc versions of Unix System V.4.2 MP – UnixWare 2.0 – on the new systems as they become available. UnixWare 2.0 for iAPX-86 CPUs is due in the summer, and includes support for symmetrical multiprocessing and an integrated NetWare client. However, ICL is once again required to do its own version for Sparc as Novell isn’t interested doing non-volume implementations itself – that work is being carried out in conjunction with ICL’s parent Fujitsu Ltd, and is expected to be ready by the end of the year. ICL says UnixWare 2.0 will deliver better performance than DRX/NX, which in turn performs 30% better than Solaris. However, apparently softening its position to the Sun unit, ICL no longer rules out the possibility of adopting the SunSoft Inc operating system – when its performance and robustness improve. The new TeamServer and SuperServer systems will carry an ICL-Fujitsu logo reflecting the parent company’s input, though ICL says it will retain intellectual property rights to the work. The company estimates the jointly-branded systems will generate 90% of sales, although Fujitsu will put them out under its name alone in Japan. The Sparc-based TeamServers and SuperServers will initially use only Texas Instruments Inc SuperSparc chips, although ICL has plans to add other machines based on a bi-endian version of the HyperSparc developed by Ross Technology, another Fujitsu company: these are expected in the second half of this year. HyperSparc systems are scheduled to appear early in 1995, and will run both UnixWare 2.0 and the version of Microsoft Corp Windows NT, which ICL is preparing. The company also expects to move up to another Fujitsu-owned Sparc, HaL Computer Ltd’s long-awaited 64-bit part, in systems it reckons won’t surface until the end of next year. Current DRS6000 systems use both SuperSparc and HyperSparc chips.
Price-performance
ICL has maintained, ever since it had the choice, that it will offer Sparcs from whichever semiconductor house offers the better price-performance – it will probably use bi-endian SuperSparcs too. In the new line-up, there are 13 uni- and dual-processor TeamServer configurations, which support up to 50 users. The 40MHz and 50MHz SuperSparc systems run DRS/NX (until UnixWare 2.0 arrives). The 80486 and 60MHz and 66MHz Pentium systems come with a choice of Windows NT, NetWare, Santa Cruz Operation Inc Unix and OS/2, and ICL boasts it will also be first to market with a system that uses Intel Corp’s new 90MHz F54C Pentium iteration. The dozen high-end SuperServers come with from one to four CPUs and support up to 250 users. They sport 50MHz or 60MHz SuperSparcs running DRX/NX (again until UnixWare 2.0 is available), or 66MHz Pentiums running the Unix System V.4 DRX/NX for Intel, Santa Cruz Unix or Windows NT. TeamServers are out now, SuperServers in May. ICL says that it hopes to ship up to 20,000 of the new systems year-end, although the pricing has not been firmed up yet.
