News Release

Susie Quitter
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
(650) 786-2566
Susie.quitter@sun.com
 
Mike Bradshaw
Connect Public Relations
(801) 373-7888
Mikeb@connectpr.com
 
 
UPGRADE PROGRAM ENABLES EASY TRADE-UP FROM WINDOWS NT 4.0 SERVER TO SUN
COBALT(tm) SERVER APPLIANCES

Sun Cobalt RaQ(tm) and Qube(tm) Server Appliances Available at Discounted
Prices to Assist Companies Affected by Microsoft's End-of-Life Plans for
Windows NT Server 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -Feb.  20, 2002 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced
an aggressive upgrade program to enable current Microsoft Windows NT Server
4.0 customers to easily trade up to Sun Cobalt RaQ(tm) server appliances or
Sun Cobalt Qube(tm) appliances. The Sun program, which follows Microsoft's
recently announced end-of-life plans for Windows NT Server 4.0, enables
users of the Microsoft operating system to migrate to select Sun Cobalt(tm)
server appliances at reduced rates, thereby ensuring uninterrupted operation
of their IT infrastructures while increasing the reliability and security of
their computing environments.

"Sun Cobalt's plan to offer a migration path for Microsoft NT Server 4.0
customers will allow them to update their older servers with the latest
generation of Sun Cobalt's Internet server technology and management tools,"
said Jean S. Bozman, research director with IDC's worldwide server group.
"The Sun Cobalt appliance servers will provide high levels of security and
performance for Web-centric workloads. Importantly, hundreds of  Sun Cobalt
units can be managed from a single Control Station management console,
giving system administrators a lot of leverage to manage multiple
Web-serving systems easily and effectively."

Server appliances, which are pre-configured and ready to plug-in directly
from the box, allow even the most inexperienced, non-technical users to
quickly and easily establish a secure network connection that includes
applications such as email hosting, file-sharing, and web serving. The Sun
Cobalt Qube 3 server appliance extends secure Internet and intranet services
to consumers and power users. These services enable home offices and small
businesses to host their own web sites, set up their own e-mail systems,
network home or office PCs, and protect their computing environments from
Internet threats. The Sun Cobalt RaQ server appliance, designed for web
hosting, offers robust capabilities rivaling general purpose servers, while
remaining easy to use, quick to deploy and highly reliable.

"In addition to offering a cost-effective, easy-to-use alternative to
Windows NT Server, Sun Cobalt server appliances provide the continuous
uptime and rock-solid protection that every organization needs to remain
profitable in today's competitive e-business marketplace," said Peder
Ulander, director of marketing for the Sun Cobalt division of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. "Windows NT customers will find that with these
plug-and-play server appliances, they can enjoy the convenience of
hassle-free computing and support without sacrificing privacy and security."

Added Security with Sun Cobalt Server Appliances

To ease the transition from Windows NT Server 4.0, Sun Cobalt server
appliances provide a unique integration of secure, Linux-based application
and system functions in a unified, easy-to-use, browser-based interface that
shields the administrator from technical complexities and minimizes the need
for trained staff.  This software layer also enables installation in
minutes, thereby minimizing downtime and increasing productivity. Because
all system components are tightly integrated, Sun Cobalt server appliances
are highly reliable, with uptime measured in months and years rather than
days or weeks. Support for RAID 1 software increases data and site
availability, thereby reinforcing the reliability of Sun Cobalt server
appliances.

"My network is vital to my business - the thought of leaving my NT server
network unsupported frightens me," said Brenda Terry at Premier Physical and
Occupational Therapy. "Risking my network's security and reliability is not
a chance I am willing to take, especially with hundreds of viruses and worms
posing as possible threats each day. I am switching over to a Sun Cobalt
Qube server appliance to ensure my network - and my business - will remain
completely protected."

Sun Cobalt server appliances also include 128-bit SSL for secure remote
administration and provide secure authentication through a global leader in
the digital certificate marketplace. In addition, built-in web access
control in Sun Cobalt server appliances not only safeguards users from
objectionable Internet material but also reduces disruptions to online
productivity. Customers also can leverage the firewall technology included
with the Sun Cobalt Qube appliance to prevent unauthorized access to company
systems and data.

Continued Ease-of-Use and Affordability

Unlike traditional general-purpose servers which require administrators to
purchase and add individual - and often, expensive - applications one at a
time, Sun Cobalt server appliances come pre-loaded and pre-configured with a
comprehensive assortment of Internet service software, including e-mail,
FTP, web publishing, file-sharing, and more. With Sun Cobalt server
appliances, customers receive more than just the operating system. In
contrast to most general-purpose servers, Sun Cobalt server appliances
include both the software and the hardware. 

Additionally, Sun Cobalt server appliances allow customers to continue using
their existing tools, such as Windows clients and Web Development Tools.
This functionality virtually eliminates the customer's learning curve during
the transition from a general purpose server to a Sun Cobalt server
appliance. Sun Cobalt server appliances also reduce cost of ownership
through the inclusion of built-in software tools and monitoring agents that
minimize the need for ongoing system management and support efforts. The
elimination of licensing fees for LAN users further decreases the cost of
using Sun Cobalt server appliances. 

Pricing and Availability

Sun Cobalt world wide retailers, effective immediately, will be taking part
in the NT Upgrade Campaign, which ends June 30, 2002.  Through the upgrade
program, qualified customers will be offered select Sun Cobalt RaQ server
appliances and Sun Cobalt Qube appliances at discounts up to 20 percent.
Additional program details are available at www.cobalt.com/upgrade or during
a Webinar offered by Sun Microsystems, Inc. on February 27, 2002 at 12 p.m.
EST. Registration details are available at
http://www.cobalt.com/registration/.  Sun Cobalt Qube 3 server appliances
will start at $1,349 and Sun Cobalt RaQ server appliances will start at
$1,399, providing a complete turnkey server solution-including the operating
system-for less than $1,400. 

About Sun Microsystems, Inc. 

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision - The Network Is The
Computer(tm) - has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its
position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software,
and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to take
their businesses to the nth. Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and
on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.
 
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Sun, Sun Microsystems, Inc., the Sun logo, Sun Cobalt, Sun Cobalt RaQ, Sun
Cobalt Qube, and the Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered
trademarks, in the United States and certain other countries, of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully
acknowledged.