Sequent Computer Systems Corp confirmed last week reports that it is to move into the multi-processor personal computer superserver business, basing its software strategy around Microsoft Corp’s forthcoming NT operating system. The Beaverton, Oregon-based company has been working over the last few months to staff up a new business unit to concentrate on low-end multi-processors, an area it feels offers great potential. Sequent has already dipped its toe into the personal computer local network database and application server space with its parallel implementation of Novell Inc’s Portable NetWare, something it says is very complementary to the new effort. Sequent won’t currently go into details over products, but says it will be leveraging its technology and knowhow gained from its line of high-end Intel Corp iAPX-86-based multiprocessor Symmetry systems, aimed at corporate users looking to downsize their mainframes. NT will support symmetric multi-processing, and uses the same parallel streams communication architecture model as Sequent. Corollary Inc, Irvine, California, is another Unix stalwart recently attracted by the lure of volume shipments via Windows NT.
