Novell Announces World's Fastest Web Server
Adds to World's Fastest Java Virtual Machine with Fastest Single-Processor Web Server
based on SPECweb96 Benchmark
Provo, Utah -- April 13 , 1998 -- Following last month's unveiling of the world's
fastest Java Virtual Machine, Novell, Inc. today announced a similar breakthrough in Web Server
performance by smashing the speed record for single-processor Web servers measured by the industry-
standard SPECweb96 benchmark. Results of the benchmark demonstrate that Novell network server
platforms for hosting Web sites and running business intranets have emerged as industry leaders in both
raw performance and price-performance value, enabling business customers and Internet Services
Providers (ISPs) to serve more users more quickly and efficiently than significantly more expensive
solutions based on UNIX and Microsoft Windows NT.
The record-breaking solution includes Novell's intraNetWare 4.11 operating system, BorderManager with
the FastCache Web server accelerator, and Netscape Enterprise Server for NetWare running on a Compaq
ProLiant 3000 with a single 300 MHZ Intel Pentium II processor. Novell's Intel processor-based
SPECweb96 result of 1639 operations per second topped the performance of all single-processor Web
servers submitted to date for SPECweb96 benchmarking, including leading UNIX and NT solutions based
on the DEC Alpha, Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC, IBM PowerPC, SGI MIPS R10000, and Sun UltraSPARC
architectures.
"Novell has moved squarely into the Internet and intranet space, where speed delivering Web pages and
applications to clients is a critical factor," said Christopher Stone, Novell senior vice president for strategy
and business development. "The new SPECweb96 numbers tell the story: the speed and scalability that
have always been hallmarks of the NetWare platform are now part of the infrastructure of the Internet.
Working with partners like Compaq, Intel, and Netscape, Novell enables our customers to deploy faster,
more reliable Web sites and intranets at a fraction of the cost."
The single-processor Novell solution offers customers exceptional price-performance value. For example,
the record-breaking Novell solution's street price is approximately $19,000, while a slower dual-processor
Sun Ultra Enterprise 450 system sells for approximately $44,000.
"This breakthrough in Web server performance clearly demonstrates Compaq's and Novell's commitment to
addressing customer bandwidth problems," said Mike Mata, director, Internet Solutions, Compaq
Computer Corporation. "This further builds on Compaq's leadership in the Internet by delivering
unsurpassed price-performance. Solutions like Novell BorderManager FastCache on Compaq ProLiant
servers enable our customers to take full advantage of the Internet while providing solid investment
protection for the future."
"Novell's networking expertise pays off in Web server solutions that help demonstrate Intel architecture
performance," said Eli Lamb, general manager for Server Software Technology at Intel Corporation.
"Novell customers can combine leading Web server performance with all the compatibility, stability and
price-performance advantages of Intel processor-based solutions."
"The tight integration between Netscape Enterprise Server for NetWare and the NetWare platform, not
only enables customers to leverage their NetWare investment, but also provides them with a high
performance solution for deploying intranets and extranets," said John Paul, senior vice president and
general manager of the Server Products Division at Netscape Communications Corporation.
Novell last week announced a partnership with Pinacor, formerly known as MicroAge Distribution, to
deliver an industry leading turnkey web acceleration solution that combines the Compaq ProLiant family of
servers with Novell's BorderManager FastCache, the Web acceleration component used in the
record-breaking SPECweb96 benchmark. Configured at the border of any UNIX, NT, Macintosh or
NetWare network, this joint solution of Compaq ProLiant servers with BorderManager FastCache speeds
user access to popular Web information, reduces network bandwidth requirements, and accelerates any web
site.
About the SPECweb96 Benchmark
SPECweb96 is the first benchmark for World Wide Web servers from the Standard Performance
Evaluation Corporation (SPEC), a non-profit corporation whose membership is open to any organization
willing to support its goals of a fair and useful set of metrics to differentiate candidate systems. SPEC has
grown to become one of the more successful performance standardization bodies with more than 40
member companies. The Novell benchmark can be accessed on the SPEC Web site at: www.spec.org/osg/web96/results/res98q2/.
About Novell
Founded in 1983, Novell (NASDAQ:NOVL) is the world's leading provider of network software. The
company offers a wide range of network solutions for distributed network, Internet/intranet and small-
business markets, as well as the network computing industry's most comprehensive education and technical
support programs. Information about Novell and its complete range of products and services can be
accessed on the World Wide Web as http://www.novell.com.
Novell, GroupWise and IntranetWare are registered trademarks and Novell BorderManager and Fastcache
are trademarks of Novell, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Press Contact:
Jonathan Cohen
Novell, Inc.
(408) 577-7268
jcohen@novell.com
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