SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced significantly expanded hardware support for the Solaris(TM) Operating System (OS) x86 Platform Edition. Sun's goal is to ensure that the Solaris OS x86 is available on the widest range of x86 systems by adding 100 new third-party systems and 100 new components to its Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) delivering more value, choice and flexibility to customers.

Sun also introduced a hardware certification test suite (HCTS) and
promotion program. The HCTS is available immediately and enables integrators, system vendors and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) to self-certify their x86 platforms and extend their reach to customers. All Solaris 9 OS x86 users and vendors are invited to participate, test and list their products on the official Sun Solaris 9 OS x86 HCL site.

Today, IHVs wanting to leverage the growing market for Solaris x86 are delivering the device driver support needed for enterprise-class deployments. Customers can access a detailed Solaris x86 hardware compatibility list at http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl and take advantage of a full range of certified drivers and system configurations, and a growing catalog of third-party and open-source applications.

"As we continue to kick the Solaris x86 program into high gear, our partner response has been overwhelming," said Ann Wettersten, vice president of marketing, software systems group at Sun. "We've seen more than 250,000 additional registered licenses of Solaris 9 x86 from industries such as finance, government, retail and telecom in the past four months alone. Customers are asking Sun and our partners for a proven, secure, enterprise-class operating system that leverages the x86 volume platform and is free and clear from any litigation concerns at a very aggressive price point."

As mass viruses continue to pose a significant threat to any organization's IT infrastructure, customers are looking to utilize the most reliable and secure system at a competitive price. With licensing starting at $99, the Solaris 9 OS x86 provides key integrated applications with built-in security features such as an integrated, enterprise-class firewall. For additional security, the Trusted Solaris(TM) OS for x86 delivers carrier-grade availability with military-grade security. Trusted Solaris is the only enterprise-class OS that provides the highest level of security assurance in
the market.

"Sun is aggressively moving to ensure that Solaris x86 is available on the widest variety of x86 systems. Through our partnership agreement with Sun, Electronic Business Solutions (EBS) will fully integrate, service and support the Solaris x86 platform on a variety of high volume x86 systems to offer our customers the benefits of the leading UNIX(r) operating system," said Fran Oh, President and CEO of Electronic Business Solutions. "EBS has been authorized by HPQ to support the Solaris OS x86 platform on their Proliant servers. EBS will be providing HPQ field sales team and customers with front line sales support as well as integration, service and support worldwide."

"Sun selected Xoriant as its certification partner to help customers and OEMs certify their specific x86 systems with the Solaris OS x86," said Girish Gaitonde, CEO of Xoriant. "Our partnership with Sun further accelerates the Solaris x86 adoption rate by providing a turnkey approach for Sun partners and customers who want to outsource compatibility testing for their x86 products."

In addition to offering a highly secure operating system, Sun delivers a safe choice amid pending intellectual property disputes. Sun indemnifies its customers for all Solaris Operating Systems, including Sun's SPARC, x86 and Trusted Solaris, making the Solaris OS a safe choice for customers moving forward.

About the Solaris x86 Platform Edition
The Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) is the premiere UNIX OS for the enterprise. Solaris 9 OS x86 offers customers increased service levels with decreased costs, while providing key integrated applications, superior Java performance, reliability, serviceability, scalability, hardware utilization, interoperability, and binary compatibility with Linux. For IT managers of small to medium sized businesses, who are dissatisfied with high infrastructure costs and expensive workgroup server environments, Solaris x86 brings its enterprise-class, robust Solaris Operating System to the low-cost computing environment. Currently, more than 1,000 applications from more than 600 ISVs are available on Sun's Solaris x86 Platform Edition ranging from database, security and Web services applications to vertical solutions such as military-grade solutions for government and defense applications.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer(TM)" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Network. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com

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NOTE: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Solaris, Trusted Solaris and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd.

CONTACT: Brett Smith of Sun Microsystems, +1-408-276-6143, or brett.smith@sun.com; or Tina Badrot of Citigate Cunningham, +1-415-618-8732, or tbadrot@citigatecunningham.com, for Sun Microsystems.

SOURCE Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Web Site: http://sun.com