Compagnie des Machines Bull SA, which launched its mainframe-class Sagister Unix boxes yesterday, says it will extend interoperability with IBM’s MVS platform later this year under a program called Blue Sage, because it doesn’t have full interoperability for more complex applications yet. Bull says it’s aiming its clustering of AIX Unix-based boxes at users with multiple Unix systems mushrooming out of control (CI No 2,940) and says it expects to compete with Sequent boxes and IBM’s SP/2, but claims its integrated operating environment makes it a superior option. Bull says Sagister is vital for its future. But how does a French firm known primarily as a hardware vendor sell itself in the US as a master of integrating software? Bull outlined a two-pronged attack to sell the Sagister multiframe – which shipped in Europe earlier this year – into the US market. It will first focus on its installed base of about 400 AIX customers and then follow up new user sales of its integrated systems management and data warehousing products with Sagister. It won’t begin to turn its attention outside its installed base until 1997, and then will target new customer sites with 10 or more AIX systems. Bull has to bulk up its support and sales operation because it will integrate the hardware and software system at its factory – making sure different software package versions will work together – and therefore has hired 15 staff for that end. A medium-sized Sagister system will come with about 40 man-days of integrated support and services and the firm will offer a catalog of other fee-based services. Bull also took on about 10 people to develop its MVS interoperability and reassigned personnel from its AIX and mainframe areas to promote Sagister. Companies such as Sun Microsystems Inc and ICL Corp have announced similar clustering products, but Bull says it’s timescale is ahead of the pack. Expect more announcements about Sagister’s Blue Sage initiative in the next few months.
