Stratus Computer Inc, Marlborough, Massachusetts has expanded its XA2000 range of fault-tolerant systems at both ends, with multi-processor 68030 models and low-end 68020-based offerings. All run FTX, Stratus’ implemenatation of Unix System V.3.2, (CI No 1,351) – which is available in the UK from June – VOS, the firm’s proprietary Virtual Operating System, and Pick 2.0. The Series 200 comes in six models, from the 210 up to the 260, with from one to six 68030s and 68882 co-processors, and up to 128Mb memory. A model 260 with 32Mb is rated at 800 transactions per second and costs UKP928,000. A model 210 with 8Mb comes in at UKP194,000. Stratus is also offering multiple implemenatations of the 200 Series as mainframe-sized options – models 2260, 2460, 2660 and 2860 – the 2260 starts at UKP2m, the 2860 combines eight model 260s with a total of 48 68030s. New at the low-end are the Model 75 and Model 80 which come in just above the existing Model 30. The Model 75 has a pair of 68020s, the Model 80 has two pairs. Each come with up to 32Mb and can support 96 workstations, the Model 75, rated at 9.5 transactions per second starts at UKP81,000, the Model 80, timed at 19 transactions per second is priced at UKP107,000. All the new systems are available now, support TCP/IP, SNA and DECnet, and will run Oracle 6.0 and Sybase relational databases. Version 2.0 of FTX, compatible with System V.4 will be out at the beginning of next year, and future releases will keep on the AT&T track. According to Stratus, IBM, which markets the XA2000 Series as its System 88s, is free to take any of the operating systems, and may need to take the System V.4 implementation to meet any orders it gets from telephone companies. On RISC, Stratus says that it has committed to using the Intel 80860 in future machines, it cannot confirm that the machine is yet under development.
