Austin, Texas-based Dell Computer Corp has launched its first multiprocessor network servers, the PowerEdge SP-2 and the XE-2. The servers use Intel Corp’s 90MHz and 100MHz Pentium chips and can be purchased with either one or two processors installed. The base configuration of both systems includes one processor, 16Mb of system memory, a 256Kb cache, a 1Gb Small Computer Systems Interface hard drive, Video Graphics Array monochrome monitor and keyboard. Both models support Windows NT, OS/2, Santa Cruz Operation Inc’s symmetric multiprocessing MPX Unix and Solaris, and are certified to run NetWare and UnixWare, Windows NT Server and Banyan Vines. Dell says it expects to add quadprocessor support to the range by mid-1995 and Intel P-6 technology in 1996. The company has also introduced server software management, SafeSite, which the firm says provides a Windows graphical user interface that enables network administrators to monitor server functions such as the temperature of components, status and performance of the Dell SCSI array subsystem, and the power supply remotely. The basic SP-2 is priced at $6,600, while the XE-2 will carry a $7,600 price tag. An upgrade to dual 90MHz processing will cost an extra $940, while a 100MHz dual-processor upgrade costs $1,140. The SP-2 is shipping now, and the XE-2 follows early next month.
