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November 30, 1999

Hitachi announces MP5400EX as strategic enterprise server for the Internet age

Addition of new medium/small-size models will facilitate building of Web and CRM systems

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) today announced  the  release the MP5400EX, a series of strategic 
enterprise servers, targeted  for medium-sized companies equipped to meet the needs of the 
Internet age on December 2.

Positioned as the entry-level system in Hitachi's MP series of enterprise servers, the 
MP5400EX series comprises ten models and new versions of the Company's VOS1/FS and 
VOSK/FS operating systems that offer enhanced performance and functionality.  The 
MP5400EX offers a 30% improvement in cost-performance compared to the existing 
MP5400 series.

High reliability and high operational efficiency are features of the new products.  For 
medium-sized companies the MP5400EX offers optimal solutions to a wide range of 
requirements in the age of the Internet by allowing existing processing resources and 
expertise to be used to speedily implement Web systems and Customer Relationship 
Management (CRM) systems and so on.

Growing numbers of corporations and private individuals are turning to the Internet, 
which will probably form the infrastructure of tomorrow's society.  In such a network 
computing society, companies will use a rapid response to market needs coupled with non-
stop business operation and the exploration of new business opportunities to win out in the 
marketplace.

In this day and age, new businesses and intra-corporate systems increasingly are 
being based on the Internet.  This is generating a growing need for computer systems that 
offer high reliability and high processing capabilities and the ability to stable maintain 
performance levels in the face of the heavy, diversified, non-specific user traffic that is a 
feature of Internet usage.  There is also a growing need to be able to rapidly structure CRM 
systems for analyzing large quantities of customer data for use in formulating corporate 
strategies and services.  Many companies that have such needs are attracted by mainframes, 
which have the ability to utilize existing data and business processing resources.


In response to the needs of this market environment, Hitachi is releasing the 
MP5400EX as a strategic mainstream server system for medium-sized companies in the age 
of the Internet.


MP5400EX server solutions
1.	Rapid structuring of high-availability Web server systems
	For speedily building and operating new businesses and services, Hitachi positions 
the MP5400EX as a key server in an Internet environment, and has developed new software 
to allow existing processing resources to be used on the Web without much modification, 
and software which enables users to utilize the MP5400EX as a Web server. In addition 
high-speed display of Web content is enabled by using parallel network processing based on 
high-speed network connections and parallel processing functions.  This makes it possible 
to rapidly configure a Web server system that effectively utilizes existing data and business 
processing assets stored on the MP5400EX while maintaining the system's stable, highly 
reliable response, thereby readily realizing a new, investment-efficient Internet utilization 
system.
2.	Speedy implementation of CRM systems
	A Database Connection Server enables simple, high-speed, PC-based searches of 
key databases stored on the MP5400EX, and the ability to automate the linking of key 
databases with data on UNIX/Windows NT systems.  This makes it possible to quickly build 
a CRM system that allows key business resources to be quickly utilized in management 
strategies.
3.	High-speed, high-reliability key business systems
	To provide high-speed business processing capabilities with high system reliability, 
a new disk array subsystem and large-capacity, high-speed internal disk storage system that 
uses dual-writing as standard have been developed, along with a high-speed parallel 
structure that provides an approximately 1.8-fold increase in total throughput.  Support has 
also been added for two new Kanji printers.


Overview of new products
1.	MP5400EX Processor 
	The MP5400EX range comprises ten medium/small-size processor models featuring 
CMOS and parallel functions.  Each model is equipped with a high-speed, large-capacity 
internal disk storage system, a high-speed parallel processing facility and an enhanced LAN 
adapter.  Compared to the current MP5400, the cost-performance of the MP5400EX has 
been boosted by 30% or more.
2.	New version of VOS1/FS
	A Database Connection Server allows corporate databases to be accessed from a PC, 
and links with UNIX/Windows NT based databases can be established automatically.  This 
facilitates the use of corporate database assets for analyzing customer data and creating new 
services.
3.	New version of VOSK/FS
	In addition to providing support for Web browser and Web database linking 
functions that enable the MP5400EX to be used as a Web server, Database Connection 
Server and database linking functions are supported.

Pricing and availability
1.	MP5400EX Processor
Pricing: From approximately 8.3 million yen
	(Configuration includes main memory, disk storage subsystem, floppy disk drive, 
	DAT drive, LAN adapter and operating system.)
Availability:  End of December 1999

2.	VOSK/FS Version 3
Pricing: From approximately 1.9 million yen
Availability: End of December 1999

3.	VOS1/FS Version 4
Pricing (monthly): From approximately 370,000 yen
Availability: End of December 1999

4.	H-6568 (disk array system)
Pricing: From approximately 7 million yen
Availability: End of December 1999

5.	H-6242 (Kanji line printer)
Pricing: From approximately 2.66 million yen
Availability: End of March 2000

6.	H-6243 (Kanji line printer)
Pricing: From approximately 4.8 million yen
Availability: End of March 2000

Trademarks and product names
UNIX is a registered trademark exclusively licensed by X/Open Company Ltd. in the United 
States and other countries.
Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and other 
countries.


Other names of companies, organizations or products are brand names, trademarks or 
registered trademarks of the respective company or organization.


WRITTEN BY Secretary's Office
All Rights Reserved, Copyright (C) 1999, Hitachi, Ltd.