Tandem Computers Inc is partnering with an unidentified manufacturer to build Intel Corp-based Windows NT boxes using the ServerNet interconnect to its own design. Tandem says it may assemble the hardware in-house sometime in the future, but that won’t be for at least a year. The firm considered using NEC to build the things but nixed that notion, according to our sister publication, ClieNT Server News. Regardless who builds the systems, they’ll likely have the same basic guts as the NT-based ServerNet systems Compaq Computer Corp’s building. Tandem says Compaq will peddle its variants to resellers and never look back but plans to sell its devices direct, focusing on its Himalaya base to begin with and offering extensive handholding services. It does expect the two offerings to be competitively priced. In addition to its anticipated NT pronouncements around October time, Tandem will also offer the ability to embed ServerNet cards on to the backplane so that 16-way clustered system arrangements will be available by summer next year. Initially ServerNet clusters will be tied together using hubs. Tandem believes it’s assumed the high-end NT crown from DEC.
