Beaverton, Oregon-based Sequent Computer Systems Inc and a still-unidentified partner are developing a five-member Pentium-based symmetric multiprocessor line that Sequent is planning to offer as a software development, application server and database system for Windows NT. Sources that have stumbled on the project claim that it is important to Microsoft Corp’s efforts to push NT into the enterprise. An announcement, perhaps blessed by Microsoft, is expected in the last week of this month. The Beaverton, Oregon multiprocessor systems builder determined some months ago that it should expand into the multiprocessor personal computer superserver business based around NT. It publicly demonstrated the first symmetric multiprocessing NT version running on a 16-processor Symmetry back in August to help Microsoft allay fears aroused by gossip that NT’s multiprocessing capabilities are severely limited and would require heavy re-architecting. The operating system however does require significant tailoring to run on multiprocessing machines and Corollary is working to simplify the problem for a shrinkwrapped symmetric multiprocessing NT. Sequent’s new hardware will not appear on the market until Microsoft releases NT. It will be buying the three lower end boxes in the line OEM from its partner under an arrangement that will give Sequent an exclusive in the NT space. These boxes will apparently be EISA-based and extend to six processors. Sequent’s main current partners are Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG and Unisys Corp, but Wyse Technology Inc and AST Research Inc have been mentioned as possible candidates – Sequent’s name has long been mentioned in conjunction with AST – but the most likely candidate appears to be Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Tricord Systems Inc. Sequent is believed to be shooting for well-tailored packaging, expandability and competitive pricing. The two larger machines are being developed by Sequent internally. NT currently supports a maximum 16 processors, although Sequent has been working with Microsoft to extend it to 32 CPUs Sequent could start by offering Pentium upgrades to its current 80486 machines and then move over to the new line. Unix lines will continue.
