Torrent Systems' Orchestrate Now Available onSun's Scalable Line of Servers, Including New...

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 1997--

Lets Users Build State-of-the-Art Data Warehousing and

Decision Support Applications on a Single Scalable Server

Torrent Systems, Inc., today announced the availability of Orchestrate on Sun Microsystems

Ultra Enterprise Server product line. Orchestrate, the leading application for building, deploying and managing scalable data processing systems, will be available on Sun's SMP servers, extending from the Ultra Enterprise 3000 server up to the Ultra Enterprise 10000 system. Torrent will deploy the newest release of Orchestrate, version 2.0, on Sun s largest server -- the Ultra Enterprise 10000, or Starfire -- which is the most powerful and scalable SMP server in the industry and rivals the mainframe in features and functionality. Orchestrate will assist customers with programming-free prototyping and development of applications for SMP systems.

"The introduction of Torrent's Orchestrate Application Environment on Sun SMP servers will enable Sun customers, systems integration partners, and ISV partners to cost effectively build and manage robust scalable software systems," said Rod Tansimore, data warehousing manager for Sun Microsystems Computer Company. "I am pleased that the two companies are working together to bring our customers the benefits of Torrent s expertise in the efficient use of parallel computers."

Orchestrate Leverages Parallel Computing

Torrent's Orchestrate is designed for building, deploying and managing scalable data processing systems for applications such as data warehousing, data mining and batch-oriented data processing systems. Orchestrate manages the complexities of building and executing a parallel program. Orchestrate also enables users to parallelize existing sequential tools and applications without programming the SMP system at a low level. In addition, any SMP software developed using Orchestrate will run in SMP cluster environments when Torrent extends its Sun SMP support later this year.

"Orchestrate makes it possible to build new software systems for enterprise-critical applications such as multi-terabyte data warehouses and data mining systems, in addition to making it possible for users to parallelize existing tools and applications," said Allen Razdow, president and CEO of Torrent Systems. "Orchestrate is designed to let customers tap into the combined benefits of the two companies' products."

META Group Praises Starfire

Sun Microsystem's Starfire is a powerful single system server designed to rival the mainframe in functionality, and Sun's storage systems make up the industry's most scalable and cost-effective line of data storage systems. According to META Group's META Fax, January 27, 1997, "Bottom Line: Sun's Starfire systems and Unix server momentum will make it the vendor to beat through 1998."

Starfire Brings Unprecedented Scalability

Sun's Ultra Enterprise 10000 server, introduced last month, represents a new class of server for the data center that combines mainframe performance and functionality with unprecedented scalability and the benefits of network computing. Starfire supports up to 64 UltraSPARC 99 II (250MHz) processor and the Gigaplane-XB interconnect which enables customers to run the most demanding, multi-terabyte applications for data warehousing, decision support, on-line transaction processing and data analytics on a single scalable server.

Starfire Pricing and Availability

Entry-level configurations for the Ultra Enterprise 10000 system begin at 16 processors and scale to 64-way configurations. Pricing for an entry-level system starts around $870,000 (U.S.), which includes 16 processors and 2 GB of memory. The system is available today with worldwide volume shipments in March 1997.

Orchestrate Availability

Torrent will make Orchestrate 2.0 available for testing on Sun SMP servers in March 1997 and is planned for general availability during Q2 1997. Orchestrate is available directly from Torrent and authorized VARs, system integrators, ISVs and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) including Emergent Corporation, Knowledge Discovery One, Lockheed Martin IS&T and MRJ Technology Solutions. (See today's announcement on Torrent's new channel partner relationships.)

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is the Computer," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., (NASDAQ "SUNW"), to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com

Torrent Systems, Inc.

Established in 1993, Torrent Systems, Inc. provides the leading environment for developing and deploying scalable enterprise software solutions. Orchestrate, Torrent's flagship product, is a new breed of software that solves critical business problems by allowing enterprises to extract value from large volumes of transaction data. Orchestrate is designed for constructing large-scale data warehouses, data mining applications and other batch-oriented data processing systems. Torrent also offers training and consulting services in systems design, development and integration. Its customers are Fortune 1000 companies in financial, retail and other sectors, as well as government agencies. Previously known as Applied Parallel Technologies, the company is privately held. Torrent Systems is headquartered at Five Cambridge Center, 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA, 02142; 617-354-8484, fax: 617-354-6767; www.torrent.com

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Orchestrate is a trademark of Torrent Systems, Inc. Other product or company names are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, Starfire, Ultra Enterprise, Gigaplane, Gigaplane-XB, SunTrust, Sun RSM Array, Sun Enterprise Storage Manager, and The Network Is the Computer are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd.

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Lois Paul & Partners Burson-Marsteller

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