SUN'S Secure Web Server Reference Architecture Helps IFORCE Partners Deliver Increased Security

Customers Gain Premium Defense for Protecting Data and Minimizing Downtime With One of Industry's Fastest Secure Web Server and Highly Reliable Solaris Operating System

HostReview.com
Monday, April 19, 2004; 12:00 AM

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - SUN iFORCE PARTNER SUMMIT - April 19, 2004 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. today expanded its x86, low-cost portfolio offerings, with the Secure Web Server Reference Architecture, updated to include one of the industry's fastest secure Web server, the Sun Fire V20z1 Opteron processor-based server. The updated Reference Architecture runs on the industrial-grade Solaris Operating System (OS) x86 platform and the Sun Java System Web Server 6.1. The Secure Web Server Reference Architecture is designed to speed time-to-deployment and revenue for web serving solutions. Industries such as financial services, government, telecommunications and healthcare can reap the benefits of the added level of security and reliability delivered through this architecture.

The Secure Web Server Reference Architecture helps iForce partners deliver pre-tested, pre-integrated secure web serving solutions, minimizing the time and risk associated with customer deployments. This and other Sun Reference Architectures will be available through channel distribution partners such as GE Access.

"Without proper planning and precaution, an enterprise can experience disastrous security intrusions that can result in lost revenue and decreased productivity, especially from today's new breed of debilitating on-line security threats," said Souheil Saliba, vice president of marketing and strategy at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "With Sun's Secure Web Server Reference Architecture, running on Sun's low-cost x86 systems, we can help our customers improve performance and decrease complexity because of greater Web security and rapid deployments on pre-tested and proven solutions."

The Sun Secure Web Server Reference Architecture, a market-proven, hardened platform for delivering web serving solutions, identifies the equipment and software required for given traffic loads as well as configurations. The architecture documents the optimal balance between security settings, configurations and performance, and includes the following benefits:

Reduced risk and increased reliability - Sun has pre-tested and pre-integrated the Sun Fire V20z Opteron processor-based server, Java System Web Server and hardened Solaris Operating System for optimal security and performance.

Decreased complexity and cost - Sun provides new and improved enabling tools for channel partners, including access to "How To" deployment guides and a framework that can be easily customized for virtually any mid-market or enterprise-class web serving solution.

Proven scalability and performance - Sun has tested and tuned the implementation under varying workload conditions to enhance the end-user experience. The Reference Architecture is based on the Sun Fire V20z, which holds the record as one of the fastest secure web server. Sun already has proven success with the Secure Web Server Reference Architecture based on implementations using the Sun Fire V60x server and Sun Fire B1600 Blade Platform announced last year.

Increased security - Through the Solaris OS, Sun delivers military-grade security features that are easy to use and built-in. These features include the latest encryption technologies, large-scale identity management and role-based access control. In addition, the Solaris Security Toolkit delivers added security features.
Sun Reference Architectures, through easy-to-use sizing and implementation guides - define the recommended hardware and software components to easily build repeatable, multi-tiered architectures. "Participation in the Sun Reference Architecture program has allowed us to scientifically test and enhance the performance of our solution on the Sun platform," said Dr. Foon Wai Keong, president and CEO at Ecquaria. "Based on the Reference Architecture, we are more confident that our products can help our customers meet the increasingly complex demands of a service-oriented economy."

These documented architectures help reduce the complexity and risk associated with deploying new computing infrastructures. "Completing the Reference Architecture with Sun has provided us with an architecture, performance knowledge and documentation that allows for a more efficient process of implementation at our customer sites. It is a win-win-win proposition for Sun, Wondertek and our customers," said Han Zhi Yi, vice general manager at Shanghai Wonder Information Tech. Co, Ltd.

Customers and iForce partners can use the Sun iForce Centers worldwide to further test these solution methodologies for their own environments prior to investing.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

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