Unisys Solutions for Latest Microsoft Software Boost Clients’ Productivity Options – from Data Centers to Mobile Offices

Unisys services, software solutions and servers extend capabilities of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Windows 7, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 throughout clients’ enterprises

Berlin – Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) today announced at the Microsoft TechEd Europe conference that it is providing multiple services-based solutions for the new Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 environments.

The solutions include data center transformation solutions whose value is demonstrated by Unisys proof-point tests, as well as end-user services and a unified communications service that Unisys is hosting for Microsoft Corp.

“When Microsoft delivers software innovations, Unisys is there with innovative solutions that help clients realize the full value of the products,” said Colin Lacey, vice president, Systems and Storage, Unisys. “We’re doing that again for these latest Microsoft offerings to help users improve their operations and make their people better able to do business anywhere at any time.”

These Unisys solutions are designed to help enterprises boost information workers’ productivity no matter where they are or how they work, improve the IT infrastructure so it supports business more efficiently, and reduce the costs of IT service delivery and support.

“Unisys deep understanding of both data centers and end-user experiences adds an extra dimension that helps Microsoft customers realize new efficiencies in computing across the enterprise,” said Betsy Frost, general manager, UC Marketing Management at Microsoft Corp. “We are impressed at the range and depth of solutions that Unisys is offering to support Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010.”

Tests Show that Unisys Data Center Transformation Solutions Boost Windows Server 2008 R2

Unisys builds on expertise and best practices in virtualized infrastructure – especially through Unisys Data Center Transformation Services, Infrastructure Management Suite of solutions, and family of Enterprise Servers – to help clients use Windows Server 2008 R2 to transform their data centers for greater efficiency at lower cost.

Unisys recently conducted proof-point tests that demonstrate the power of Windows Server 2008 R2 in a virtualized environment.

In the first test, Unisys demonstrated that the Unisys ES7000 Model 7600R Enterprise Server provides a powerful platform for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 database consolidation.

Using Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Edition, a single Unisys ES7000 server supported the same workload as 32 dual-socket quad-core commodity servers, each running two 85-gigabyte SQL Server 2008 R2 databases, while providing better response times.

Unisys achieved those results while quadrupling the utilization rate of the commodity servers and using 55 percent less power. The 32:1 consolidation ratio shows that Unisys can help clients configure and manage their SQL Server database infrastructure more efficiently and significantly reduce their facilities, server maintenance and support costs.

In the second proof-point test, Unisys demonstrated high availability for virtualized SQL Server 2008 R2 workloads delivered through the new Live Migration capability of Microsoft Hyper-V.

In the past, clients’ inability to move virtual machines (VMs) from one host to another without any perceived downtime or service interruption – a capability especially important in large-scale clustered SQL Server environments – has been a key barrier to virtualizing SQL Server workloads with Hyper-V. Unisys solved this challenge with the Hyper-V Live Migration capability.

Unisys migrated 12 VMs, with each running two 85-gigabyte databases in a single instance of SQL Server 2008 R2 with 20 concurrent users, between two nodes of an ES7000 Model 7600R clustered server. During the Live Migration process, users experienced virtually no loss of performance or interruption of service.

A third test supported the Unisys decision framework that helps clients make the right virtualization choices for their environment. Unisys demonstrated the significant performance and total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) advantages delivered by Hyper-V. The proof-point test revealed that a 12-socket Unisys ES7000 Model 7600R can support 384 VMs – the maximum currently supported under Windows Server 2008 R2 – with a three-year TCO per VM of $578. In contrast, a two-socket server using the latest generation of Intel processors could support only 16 VMs at a far higher three-year TCO per VM of $2,035.

End-User Services Extend Benefits of Exchange Server 2010 and Windows 7

Unisys End-User Productivity Services enable IT organizations to realize the full business potential of Exchange Server 2010 and Windows 7. These services provide multiple options for end users to securely access key productivity environments – whether running centrally managed applications locally on mobile devices such as netbooks and smartphones, accessing them through cloud-based services or using a mixture of delivery options.

For example, users of Exchange Server 2010 can benefit from UnisysUnified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), which delivers Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and Microsoft Office Communicator applications in a multi-tenant environment through Unisys Secure Cloud Solution.

In addition, Unisys provides migration and management support for Windows 7 to help clients deploy the new environment most efficiently and effectively. Also, the advanced desktop management, support and flexible applications delivery capabilities of Unisys End-User Productivity Services give Windows 7 users anywhere, anytime access to their critical productivity environments.

Unified Communications Solutions Help End-Users Explore the Possibilities

Based on Unisys expertise in managed services, Microsoft has selected Unisys to build and manage the Microsoft Unified Communications Virtual Experience for Exchange Server 2010 and Office Communications Server 2007 R2. This cloud-based trial service enables enterprise users to try, free of charge, the latest Microsoft UC technology.

The service gives organizations worldwide the opportunity to test key new features of the Microsoft offerings, such as multi-party instant messaging and voice and video conferencing, and evaluate the potential benefits of Microsoft unified communications for their business. It also helps them assess how they can help employees collaborate more productively using the devices and technologies that best suit their work styles – whether PCs, web browsers or mobile phones.

Organizations interested in participating in a 60-day virtual experience should visit http://www.microsoft.com/uc/en/us/try-it.aspx.
About Unisys

Unisys is a worldwide information technology company. We provide a portfolio of IT services, software, and technology that solves critical problems for clients. We specialize in helping clients secure their operations, increase the efficiency and utilization of their data centers, enhance support to their end users and constituents, and modernize their enterprise applications. To provide these services and solutions, we bring together offerings and capabilities in outsourcing services, systems integration and consulting services, infrastructure services, maintenance services, and high-end server technology. With more than 26,000 employees, Unisys serves commercial organizations and government agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.unisys.com.