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News Release

May 13, 1997

Hitachi Expands Lineup of M Parallel Series of Mainframe Computers

Hitachi, Ltd. on May 14 will strengthen its lineup of M Parallel Series systems with the addition of twelve new models to the MP5800 and MP5600 processor groups. A new version of the company's VOS3/FS operating system with increased functionality will also be released on the same date.

The MP5800 is the world's fastest uniprocessor system and already has a well-established international reputation. The series will be supplemented by the addition of five new models, each of which provides a 20% boost in processing performance compared with existing models. Outstanding scalability and cost-performance make the MP5600 the system of choice for a broad range of computing requirements. The addition of seven new models will provide a processing performance improvement of 40% to 50% compared with existing models.

In today's corporate information system environment, the progress of network computing using intranets and the Internet has been accompanied by the increasing importance of collaboration between mainstream business processing and new applications such as electronic commerce and data warehouses. The result is that while the traditional enterprise role of the mainframe has been defined by the large scale, large-capacity processing capabilities, reliability and security of such systems, increasing importance is also being placed on the ability to quickly configure new systems that utilize mainstream business processing resources, and on total cost aspects.

The M Parallel Series has been developed as a range of next-generation mainframe systems, comprising the very-large-scale MP5800 Series released in April 1995, the large-scale MP5600 Series released in April 1996, and the medium/small-size MP5400 Series released in September 1995.

The new additions to the MP5800 feature improvements to the advanced CMOS-ECL (ACE) technology that help to boost processing performance by 20% compared with existing models. At the same time, the new models can utilize existing software resources without any modification. The latest CMOS technology helps the new MP5600 models deliver a 40% to 50% improvement in processing performance over existing models. As a result, the MP5600 processor group represents a broad spectrum of capabilities, with the fastest configuration offering approximately twenty-seven times the performance of a low-end system, making it possible to tailor configurations to requirements with a high degree of precision. The expanded lineups mean the MP5800 and MP5600 processor groups can meet the needs of users seeking high performance as well as the needs of users whose priority is high cost-performance.

The new VOS3/FS is designed to provide enhanced handling of open and distributed systems in intranet and Internet environments, and also features increased parallel processing functions and expanded support for database server operations within enterprise information systems.

The M Parallel System Solution services have been expanded to include the new processor models.

- Outline of New Products -

1. Processors

(1) MP5800 Processor Group
- There are five new models (the 415, 525, 625, 725 and 825), which feature improved ACE technology and a 20% improvement in processing performance compared with existing models. The largest model in the processor group, the 825, has eleven times the performance of the smallest model, the 160.
- The maximum memory capacity of all models, including current models, is being doubled, to 24 gigabytes.

(2) MP5600 Processor Group
- There are seven new models (the 215, 315, 415, 515, 615, 715 and 815), which feature the most advanced CMOS technology and a 40% to 50% improvement in processing performance compared with existing models. The largest model in the processor group, the 815, has 27 times the performance of the smallest model, the 120.
- At 16 gigabytes, the new models have twice the maximum memory capacity of current models. The new models also incorporate a database processor.
- Both new and existing models have a LAN adapter that supports Asynchronous Transfer Mode.

(3) High-speed Connection Control Feature
- Seven new connector models are being added for the new models of the MP5600 group.

2. Software

(1) Stronger links with open and distributed systems
- For intranet/Internet environments, there is support for access to structured database XDM/SD E2 from WWW browsers.
- Java client support with XDM/DCCM3 transaction processor.
- Support for file backup and high-speed data links with databases using disk array shared with open systems.
- Strengthened TCP/IP connectivity.

(2) Strengthened parallel functions for XDM integrated databases/data communication systems
- Strengthened SQL parallel functions between Central Processing Nodes (CPNs). Support for dividing relational database tables among multiple CPNs and parallel execution of SQL processes.
- Expanded range of application of XDM distributed parallel functions. Support for allocating shared tables to a single node and table access distributed function processing.
- Support for building multimedia databases using XDM/RD E2 relational databases.

(3) Support for latest hardware used on new models

3. M Parallel Systems Solutions

There are new service and maintenance products for the new MP5800 and MP 5600 system model lineups.

- Pricing & Availability -

1. Processors

(1) MP5800 Processor Group models
- Pricing (per month): From 141.96 million yen (Model 415)
- Availability: December 1997

(2) MP5600 Processor Group models
- Pricing (per month): From 26.04 million yen (Model 215)
- Availability: October 1997

2. Software

(1) VOS3/FS - JSS3/JSS4
- Pricing (per month): 1.386 million yen /1.53 million yen
- Availability: December 1997 (for new MP5800 models)
October 1997 (for new MP5600 models)

(2) XDM relational database XDM/RD E2
- Pricing (per month): 540,000 yen
- Availability: October 1997 (strengthened inter-node SQL parallel functions and multimedia compatibility)

(3) XDM extended table access facility XDM/TM2
- Pricing (per month): 198,000 yen
- Availability: October 1997 (strengthened functional distributed parallel processing)

(4) DCCM3 Internet facility DCCM3/Internet
- Pricing (per month): 90,000 yen
- Availability: October 1997 (Java client links with XDM/ DCCM3)

Note: License charge by usage tier will be applied with respect to VOS3/FS system program products. The charges shown here are monthly charges when using an MP5600/180 processor.

3. M Parallel Systems Solutions

(1) MP System Services

- Pricing: From 15 million yen (for new MP5800 models)
From 12.5 million yen (for new MP5600 models)
- Availability: December 1997 (new MP5800 models)
October 1997 (new MP5600 models)

(2) MP System Basic Maintenance Service
- Pricing (per month): From 8.54 million yen (for new MP5800 models)
From 4.375 million yen (for new MP5600 models)
- Availability: December 1997 (for new MP5800 models)
October 1997 (for new MP5600 models)

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WRITTEN BY Secretary's Office
All Rights Reserved, Copyright (C) 1997, Hitachi, Ltd.