San Jose, Calif. (Dec. 13, 1996) - SUPERMICRO today announced the industry's first I2O-ready server solution available in production quantity. Based on Intel's new i960® RP I/O processor, the new dual Pentium Pro P6DNH achieves a new level of performance for high-performance server systems. The intelligent i960 RP I/O subsystem offloads interrupt handling, relieving the host CPU and enhancing system performance. The I2O specification implemented on the P6DNH provides an open, standards-based architecture that provides a framework for the rapid development of a new generation of portable, intelligent I/O solutions.

Besides delivering increased system performance, the I2O specification eliminates the need for different drivers for each combination of operating system and SCSI or Network Interface Card. Because the drivers may be standardized, and not re-written for new operating system releases, drivers can become more highly optimized and robust, improving performance and reliability in mission-critical enterprise computing.

"I2O will provide a major benefit to the entire computing industry," said Charles Liang, President and CEO of SUPERMICRO. "I2O will provide increased system performance, more robust systems, increased flexibility, faster access to new I/O technology, and increased fault tolerance. SUPERMICRO has distinguished itself by being the first company to ship production volumes of motherboards and servers for this exciting new environment."

Production shipments of the SUPER P6DNH have already been made to other members of the I2O SIG (Special Interest Group). The SIG, of which SUPERMICRO is a leading member, is committed to establishing the I2O as the industry standard specification for high performance I/O systems.

The I2O-ready SUPER P6DNH Server Solution is supplied with dual 200 MHz Pentium Pro processors, a 256KB/512KB L2 cache, a 4 GB ultrawide SCSI hard drive, 3 1/2" floppy drive, and dual redundant hot-swappable power supplies. The innovative chassis includes eleven optional hot-swappable hard drive bays, permitting system operators to replace drives without shutting down the system. Other server configurations are available. "SUPERMICRO's Server Solution provides our customers with a proven system that is guaranteed to provide the ultimate in performance and reliability," added Mr. Liang. "Our Server Solution provides our customers with a high degree of flexibility by introducing proven system building blocks, thereby decreasing system integrator's time-to-market."

Based on the Intel 440 FX chipset, SUPER P6DNH supports up to 1 GB of FPM or EDO memory and provides 8 PCI and 3 ISA slots, an 8 Mb Flash I/O BIOS and local IOP memory of 64 MB. A multi-function system overheat temperature sensor can activate a back-up fan and/or alarm, making the server ideal for mission-critical applications.