| Q: | What is the Validated Server Program?
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| R: | The Validated Server Program is a collaboration between AMD and Celestica that combines AMD’s world-class silicon technologies with Celestica’s world-class electronic manufacturing services. The Validated Server Program design undergoes an AMD ‘validation’ that tests compatibility and reliability of the configuration. The program was designed to simplify a system builder's business by making it easy for them to provide AMD Opteron™ processor-based server platforms that are backed by world-class manufacturing and support. System builder partners purchase these systems (either barebones or fixed configuration), add additional hardware, software, or services, and re-sell them as system builder branded server—providing system builders with fast time to market and a competitive advantage and allowing them to provide their customers with AMD64 technology quickly and simply. |
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| Q: | What is meant by barebones vs. fixed-configuration server systems?
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| R: | Barebones systems include a chassis, motherboard with chipset, thermal solution, and power supply, allowing a system builder to add processors, memory, hard disk drives, and other components to meet the needs of their customers. The fixed-configuration is a complete server system that includes all of the components above plus the operating system. Fixed-configuration servers further reduce the amount of system integration required by the system builder and reduce the amount of support required of the system builder, since all of the components are covered by a limited warranty and rapid product replacement plan through Celestica. |
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| Q: | What are the benefits of the Validated Server Program to commercial customers?
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| R: | AMD Opteron processors are designed to simplify a customer’s business by providing reliability for today’s demanding enterprise applications, with simultaneous high-performance 32-bit computing and the ability to migrate to 64-bit computing as the customer requires. Celestica is a world-leading electronics manufacturing services provider excelling in the execution of integrated and seamless end-to-end support and customer service. Commercial customers can purchase servers knowing that they have been validated by AMD and are backed by Celestica’s world-class service and support. |
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| Q: | What markets are these servers targeted for?
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| R: | Solutions available through the Validated Server Program cover a range of end-user needs. The 1U/2P A2210 is targeted at Internet and network infrastructure workloads for customers who require high performance, scalability and availability in a dense 1U package. The 4U/4P A8440 is designed for compute-intensive enterprise workloads, such as databases, business processing, messaging and business intelligence applications. |
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| Q: | Will these be branded as AMD servers?
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| R: | No. AMD does not build servers. VSP solutions will be branded by the system builder partners involved in this program. |
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| Q: | Is AMD manufacturing servers?
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| R: | No. The servers will be manufactured by Celestica, a world leader in electronics manufacturing services and the delivery of end-to-end service and support. |
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| Q: | Will these validated servers be available in all regions?
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| R: | The VSP is scheduled for availability to North American system builder partners on June 30, 2003. AMD currently plans to expand VSP availability in other regions in the second half of 2003. |
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| Q: | What products will be offered through the Validated Server Program?
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| R: | The first platforms planned for availability from the VSP will be the A8440 and the A2210. The A8440 is a 4U/4P rack-mountable server based on the AMD Opteron processor 800 Series. The A2210 is a 1U/2P rack-mountable server based on the AMD Opteron processor 200 Series. |
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| Q: | What system builders are currently ordering systems from Celestica? When will their systems be available?
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| R: | System builders in North America currently offering VSP servers include APPRO, Aspen Systems and RackSaver. We expect other system builders to join the Validated Server Program over time. |
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| Q: | What processor models are being announced June 30?
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| R: | AMD is continuing its commitment to technical innovation by announcing the availability of the AMD Opteron processor 800 Series, including Models 840, 842 and 844 for up to 8-way servers, and the AMD Opteron processors 100 Series, including Models 140, 142 and 144 for one-way servers and workstations. |
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| Q: | What markets are these processors targeted for?
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| R: | The AMD Opteron processor 800 Series is for use in up to 8-way servers or workstations. Enterprise workloads typically benefiting from 4-way and 8-way server processing power include large databases, business processing (ERP, CRM, SCM), business intelligence, as well as other IT infrastructure applications including heavy-duty Web serving and messaging. It’s also ideal for the most demanding workstation applications, including advanced engineering, financial modeling, 3D graphics and scientific applications. The AMD Opteron processor 100 Series is for use in 1-way servers and workstations. One-way servers are commonly used by Internet and application service providers (ISPs/ASPs), eBusiness and data center customers for edge-of-the-network workloads such as DNS servers, DHCP servers, security encryption as well as in network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) devices. The 100 Series is also ideal for intensive workstation applications like engineering, CAD, DCC and software development. |
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| Q: | What is the availability of these processors?
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| R: | These processors, the AMD Opteron processors Models 840, 842, 844, 140, 142, and 144 are available immediately, worldwide. |
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| Q: | What motherboard support is available for these processors?
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| R: | The AMD Opteron processor 800 Series is supported by the Celestica A8440 server, which is available through the Validated Server Program. The AMD Opteron processor 100 Series is planned to be supported, initially, by the ASUS SK8N motherboard with NVIDIA Nforce3 Pro 150 chipset, scheduled for July 2003 availability. |
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| Q: | What OEMs or system builders are offering systems featuring AMD Opteron processors?
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| R: | North American system builders currently offering servers with the
AMD Opteron processor 800 Series include APPRO, Aspen Systems and RackSaver. Systems featuring the AMD Opteron processor 100 Series are planned to be available initially from Angstrom Microsystems and Boxx Technologies in July 2003. |
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