Compaq Announces Plans to Deliver Novell NetWare SMP -- Integration with
Compaq SmartStart Provides Optimized and Robust Platform for
Multi-Processing Applications

ATLANTA, September 27, 1995 -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ), the
leading provider of NetWare servers, today announced it will deliver
NetWare 4.1 SMP from Compaq via SmartStart -- Compaq's intelligent method
for installing and optimizing software on Compaq platforms -- in 1Q96. The
combination of Compaq's high performance symmetric multiprocessing servers
and NetWare 4.1 SMP will provide customers with an integrated and robust
platform for running high performance, scaleable, business-critical
applications on the network. With NetWare 4.1 SMP from Compaq, customers
will realize increased throughput and greater overall system performance,
and scalability at the server.

"We have been working very closely with Novell to bring NetWare SMP to
market so that our customers could take full advantage of the
multiprocessing capabilities of Compaq's award-winning application servers
in a NetWare environment," said Gene Austin, vice president, Systems
Marketing at Compaq. "Strong partnerships, like this one, enable customers
to harness the full power of both hardware and software, for a reliable
and optimized solution that can be deployed with confidence."

"The combination of Compaq servers and Novell NetWare 4.1 SMP provides
customers with a scalable, high-performance platform that addresses the
requirements of client/server computing," said Richard King, executive
vice president, Novell Corporation. "Compaq has been a valued partner in
our SMP development, and our partnership has resulted in server solutions
that can support companies' business- critical information systems today
and tomorrow."

NEW PLATFORMS PROVIDE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE WHILE PROTECTING INVESTMENTS

NetWare 4.1 SMP allows software applications to run over more than one
processor at the same time -- a capability that is vital for large,
high-performance database applications, such as on-line teller systems,
inventory, order entry, and purchasing applications -- enabling Compaq
servers to accomplish more work in a shorter time. As more processors are
added, the workload can be distributed among the processors, taking full
advantage of the tremendous processing power Compaq's multi-processing
systems offer.

NetWare 4.1 SMP is designed to be backward compatible with existing NetWare
Loadable Modules (NLMs) and device drivers, as well as fully compatible
with new SMP applications, allowing customers to protect their current
investment. Also, since NetWare 4.1 SMP is a scalable solution, customers
can expand their Compaq systems based on their business needs, again
allowing them to further preserve their investments.

Compaq's Insight Manager, which allows system management over the network
or remotely, via a modem, will also support NetWare 4.1 SMP, providing
customers with a robust set of monitoring, alerting and control features,
as well as remote maintenance, in network environments.

COMPAQ CONTINUES TO LEAD SERVER MARKET

As demonstrated by its success in providing well-engineered and tightly
integrated solutions, Compaq -- the number one provider of NetWare servers
worldwide -- continues to lead both the server and the superserver markets
with a combined 41 percent marketshare (2Q95), according to market
research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). In fact, Compaq has
held the number one spot as market leader in both the PC server and
superserver markets since 1993, according to IDC.

PRODUCT SUPPORT

Compaq will offer NetWare 4.1 SMP through SmartStart, its CD-ROM based
integration tool for configuring, installing and optimizing network
operating systems, relational database and other client/server- related
software. NetWare 4.1 SMP solutions have been optimized to take full
advantage of Compaq's multiprocessing servers including both tower and
rack-mount models of the Compaq ProLiant 4500, an enterprise-class
application server, and the ProLiant 4000 and ProLiant 2000 servers. In
addition, Compaq systems including the Compaq 32 bit Fast-Wide SCSI-2
controller, Compaq SMART SCSI Array Controller and popular NetFlex
adapters (both NetFlex-2 and NetFlex-3 families) will be supported under
NetWare SMP.

COMPAQ AND NOVELL PARTNERSHIP HISTORY

Compaq and Novell have been working together since 1983 to address the
evolving needs of network customers including performance optimization and
network manageability. As part of an Enterprise Computing Partnership,
Compaq and Novell redefined customer ease-of-ownership and network
integration to make it easier for customers to migrate business-critical
applications to industry-standard servers, and simplify the operation and
maintenance of networks. Compaq was a key partner in many activities
surrounding the development of NetWare 4.1 SMP by providing test support
for MP certification, MP driver certification for Compaq products, and
pre-beta development versions of Novell multiprocessing technology. Compaq
also developed the Compaq platform specific module (PSM) and comprehensive
information and integration tools for NetWare 4.1 SMP including Compaq
Insight Manager and SmartStart, which provides customers with greater
levels of server management, dependability and ease of use.

COMPAQ BACKGROUND

Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal
computers, offering desktop PCs, portable PCs and servers. Founded in
1982, Compaq reported 1994 worldwide sales of $10.9 billion. Compaq
products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a
network of more than 38,000 Compaq marketing partners. Compaq provides
24-hour customer support and can be reached through the Compaq forums on
America Online, CompuServe, Internet (http://www.compaq.com) and Prodigy,
or by calling 1-800-345-1518.
 
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