The nine models in Stratus Computer Inc’s PA-7100 RISC-based Continuum Fault Tolerant line (CI No 2,597) range from the entry-level 610s to the four-way 1245. The 72MHz uniprocessor 610 is intended for use as a server only, and comes with 512Kb of level 2 cache, 128Mb memory, up to 10Gb disk, no capability for adding expansion cabinets and costs $98,000. The 610 can accommodate up to 512Mb memory, 82Gb disk and up to 16 expansion cabinets. It costs from $185,000. The dual 72MHz 620 with 512Kb level 2 cache is $285,000; the two-way 625 96MHz machine with 2Mb level 2 cache is from $435,000. The 12-slot, 72MHz 1210 uniprocessor with 512Kb level 2 cache, up to 512Mb RAM and 178Gb RAM costs from $335,000. The 96MHz 1215 version with 2Mb second level c ache is from $465,000. The two-way 72MHz 12-slot 1220 with 512Kb second level cache is from $490,000. With two 96MHz parts and 2Mb second level cache it costs from $640,000 as does the 1225. The top-end 1245 with four 96MHz parts can accommodate up to 1Gb RAM and 178Gb disk and goes from $890,000. Although it is going after the likes of Hewlett-Packard Co, IBM Corp, Pyramid Technology Corp, Sequent Computer Systems Inc and Sun Microsystems inc, which are creeping into its market with a new breed of low-cost high-availability systems, Tandem Computers Inc remains Stratus’ main fault-tolerant rival. It says it will network applications running on Continuums to other vendors’ kit, saying it would even sell RS/6000s as part of a system if that is what its customers demand. The company is also expanding on-line support with the Stratus Remote Service Network, which connects all Stratus systems to customer service centres. If any system fault or failure is reported to a centre, replacement parts are dispatched overnight. Stratus offers a guarantee of availability, promising to refund any revenue the customer can prove has been lost as a result of downtime on Stratus kit when the customer is on its maintenance plan.
