Tokyo and London, May 22, NEC Corporation (NEC) today announced the launch of its new ftseries fault-tolerant (FT) servers(1), the mid-range NEC Express5800/320Fd-MR and entry-level NEC Express5800/320Fd-LR. Featuring Quad-Core Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors(2), the 320Fd-MR achieves a 20% performance gain over the existing mid-range model(3).

The new models are expected to support VMware(R) ESX(4) virtualizationsoftware in September 2008. With virtualization technology, the products will be fully optimized for use in infrastructure to consolidate distributed servers.

The NEC Express5800/320Fd-MR and 320Fd-LR will initially be releasedin the Japan and Asia Pacific markets in May 2008, followed by North America and the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) market.

Key Features

1.Enhanced processing performance
The 320Fd-MR and 320Fd-LR feature Quad-Core Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors, achieving a 20% performance gain over the existing 320Fc-MR model. The GeminiEngine(TM) chipset is specially engineered to synchronize redundant components, thereby preventing CPU performance degradation due to hardware redundancy control. Hardware redundancy extends even to the connection path between NEC's FT server and storage product. The redundant path further improves data availability, simplifying the consolidation of physically distributed file and web servers into a single FT server.

2.Reduction in Windows maintenance time
The optional Active Upgrade(TM)(5) splits the FT server into two independently running systems and allows one of the systems to run critical applications without interruption while Windows security patches and program updates are being installed on the other system. System reboots, which are necessary on conventional FT servers when software updates are finished, are no longer required on the 320Fd servers.(6) Active Upgrade(TM) not only minimizes planned downtime due to software updates but also enables stable system operation by testing the latest software updates before making the updates permanent.

The latest NEC Express5800 ft series server models are designed toaddress a growing market need for robust hardware infrastructure with the solid reliability and availability essential for server consolidation.

Notes:
(1) Fault-tolerant servers are designed to continue normal operations by implementing transparent failover in the event of hardware failure.
(2) Intel and Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.
(3) Processing performance measured by NEC.
(4) VMware is a registered trademark or trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions.
(5) Active Upgrade is a trademark of Stratus Technologies Bermuda Ltd.
(6) A brief disruption is required after installation as critical applications are restarted on upgraded software.

Other company names, logos and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.