Compaq Ships AlphaServer 64-bit 1 GHz Systems and Enhancements to Tru64 UNIX

Rumors of Compaq's abandonment of AlphaServers is greatly exaggerated - for now, at least. Last week , we heard that the company would be making the machines until 2008 and today, the company says that it has added enhancements to Tru64 UNIX and that its AlphaServer GS Series systems have begun shipping with the 1 GHz, 64-bit Alpha processor. Enhancements to True64 include support for on-line add-and-replacement of processors and the ability to mix 64-bit CPU speeds within a single system. Along with announcing that the AlphaServer GS Series systems have begun shipping with the 1 GHz, 64-bit Alpha processor, Compaq also said that its less-pricey AlphaServer DS Series systems will now be available with an 833 MHz, 64-bit Alpha processor. The GS Series supports Tru64 UNIX and OpenVMS. The DS Series systems also support Linux. The 1 GHz Alpha processor is available now with all AlphaServer GS Series models, including the eight-processor GS80, the 16-processor GS160 and the 32-processor GS320. AlphaServer GS80 systems with the 1 GHz processor start at under $95,000, GS160 systems under $255,000, and GS320 systems are priced under $565,000. Prices for the AlphaServer DS Series systems with the 833 MHz Alpha processor start at $15,400. The new enhanced version of Tru64 UNIX will be pre-installed on Tru64 UNIX AlphaServer systems starting in September and enhanced TruCluster Server software will also be available in September starting at $3,000. To add to the confusion for Compaq Alpha customers, the company has also announced a new 64-Bit ProLiant Server, called the DL590/64, that makes use of Intel's Itanium processor. The new ProLiant model supports up to four Itaniums and up to 64 GB of ECC SDRAM memory. DL590/64 pricing has not yet been revealed.