Compaq to Offer Linux Advanced Developer's Kit for AlphaServer GS Series Systems

HOUSTON, April 19, 2001 - Strengthening its position as the leader in Linux computing, Compaq Computer Corporation announced today that it is offering Linux developers an Advanced Developer's Kit (ADK) for use with its high-end AlphaServer GS Series systems.

Developed in close collaboration with the Linux community, the developer's kit provides both documentation and software, including the recommended tools and patches required for running the Linux 2.4 kernel with either SuSE 7.0 or Red Hat 7.0 on the powerful AlphaServer GS systems.

"With its strengths in handling data-intensive and other high-performance applications, Linux is gaining increased acceptance in the enterprise," said Rick Frazier, vice president of marketing for Compaq's Business Critical Server Group. "With the ADK, we are responding to requests from customers who want to evaluate Linux on a high-end multi-processor configuration or run Linux applications in a mixed environment with our Tru64 UNIX operating system."

The ADK follows an initial port of Linux to the GS series, which was accomplished recently through the combined efforts of a team of SuSE developers, and Compaq AlphaServer GS and Alpha Linux engineers. The initial port already has been used by some AlphaServer GS Series customers to run Linux applications on a single partition while their mission-critical applications run on other partitions with Compaq's Tru64 UNIX operating system.

The availability of Linux on the massively scalable AlphaServer systems, which can be used with as many as 32 Alpha microprocessors, also will provide an opportunity for developers to further enhance Linux enterprise-level RAS features and adopt high-end multi-processor technologies, such as NUMA.

"SuSE and Compaq are working together in many areas to move Linux more into the high end of computing," said Dirk Hohndel, chief technology officer at SuSE Linux AG. "Among the highlights in this cooperation are our work on support for the NUMA architecture, as well as improvements to the scheduler and other key kernel components to make it better utilize the enormous potential of the AlphaServer GS systems. Having the ADK available enables us and our customers to implement Linux based solutions for their high-end computing needs."

The ADK is available for download at http://www.support.compaq.com/alpha-tools.

From Compaq iPAQ handheld devices to ProLiant and AlphaServer systems, Compaq offers the platforms that more customers choose to deploy their Linux-based solutions. According to industry research group IDC, Compaq is the worldwide industry leader in Linux server shipments with 24 percent of all Linux servers shipped in 2000, primarily due to the success of its industry-standard ProLiant servers.

Although now available as an ADK, Linux for the AlphaServer GS series has not been certified with any of the Linux distributions, and standard support from Compaq Services is not available at this time.

Company Background

Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is a leading global provider of technology and solutions. For more corporate information, see http://www.compaq.com/.

Notes:

Compaq and the Compaq logo Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: component shortages, delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models, increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout schedules, slow acceptance for new form factors, employee retention, disruptions related to restructuring actions, the financial condition of resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, and emerging market political or economic instability. Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.