From: Connect Public Relations <ConnectPR@connectpr.com> To: "'lwn@lwn.net'" <lwn@lwn.net> Subject: Cobalt Unveils StaQware Clustering Software Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 09:16:29 -0600 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information contact: Renee Reyes Cobalt Networks 650-623-2625 renee@cobaltnet.com Mike Bradshaw Connect Public Relations 801-373-7888 mikeb@connectpr.com Cobalt Networks Delivers High Availability Clustering Solution for Business Critical Web Sites and Applications - Cobalt Unveils StaQware Clustering Software Designed to Enhance the Reliability of Applications and Web sites Hosted on Cobalt RaQ 3i Server Appliances - Orlando, Florida, May 22, 2000 - Cobalt Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: COBT), a leading provider of server appliances, today announced Cobalt StaQware, a high availability clustering solution that ensures the uptime of business critical Web sites and applications. StaQware, which runs on Cobalt's RaQ 3i server appliances, offers 99.99 percent availability and requires no customization or modification to applications. Business critical information and applications residing on a server are open to power failure, operator error, software crashes, hardware faults and other causes of server outages. Recovering from a server failure takes time, money and new hardware. Cobalt StaQware is designed to provide constant uptime reliability, real time content replication and full data and hardware redundancy. With pricing below $1,000 and an easy to use browser-based set-up and administration, StaQware is created to make high availability services affordable and easy to implement for service providers offering Web and application hosting services. "As more customers migrate their business critical Web applications to a dedicated RaQ 3i server appliance, the need for reliability and constant uptime increases. In this market, time is money and failure or downtime is lost revenue," said Kelly Herrell, vice president of marketing, Cobalt Networks, Inc. "Cobalt StaQware offers service providers a means to deliver highly reliable and affordable dedicated Web and application hosting services that their customers are seeking." StaQware Benefits · Automatic real time content replication Cobalt StaQware's automatic real time data mirroring ensure the safety of the data residing on the Cobalt RaQ 3i server appliance so that data is not vulnerable to hardware faults, power failure, operator error, software crashes and other causes of server failure. · Automatic failure detection and rollover StaQware is designed to make certain that data and Web-based applications are constantly available. A heartbeat continuously monitors the status of the server installation and a standby server appliance is available to assume the role of the primary if the primary server appliance is not available due to server failure. · Full data and hardware redundancy In the event the primary Cobalt RaQ 3i server appliance experiences difficulty, the hot standby server appliance automatically takes on the role as the primary server appliance with all hardware and software intact, eliminating downtime for critical Web sites and applications. · Browser-based administration and easy setup Cobalt StaQware uses the turnkey user interface setup that is common in all Cobalt server appliances. StaQware is designed to install in minutes and requires no training or advanced knowledge of cluster technologies. Users have full control and cluster status through the Web-based user interface. This interface enables rapid deployment and management of a cluster while freeing time to respond to new customer inquiries. The browser-based user interface shields the administrator from technical complexities and the installed set up wizards are used to minimize the need for highly trained technical staff. Requirements · Two RaQ 3i server appliances "As more and more small-to medium-sized businesses depend on the Internet for their business applications, service providers must be able to expand their service offerings while ensuring solid reliability, simplicity and affordability to their customers," said Kelly Herrell. "Cobalt StaQware intends to deliver yet another value-add service for Internet and application service providers hosting dedicated Web-based applications that are critical to everyday business needs." StaQware Pricing and Availability Cobalt StaQware will be available on May 30, 2000 through the Cobalt Web site at shop.cobalt.com. Through the end of June, Cobalt StaQware will be available at a special introductory price of $499, 50 percent off of the suggested retail price of $999. For more information on Cobalt's StaQware high availability clustering solution, please visit www.cobalt.com or call Cobalt at 888-702-6225. About Cobalt Networks, Inc. Cobalt Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: COBT) is a developer of server appliances that enable organizations to establish an online presence easily, cost effectively, and reliably. Cobalt's product lines - the Cobalt Qube, Cobalt Cache, Cobalt RaQ, and Cobalt NASRaQ - are used as Internet and Web hosting server appliances at businesses, Service Providers, and educational institutions. Cobalt's solutions are delivered through a global network of distributors, value-added resellers and ISPs. Founded in 1996, Cobalt Networks, Inc. (http://www.cobalt.com) is located in Mountain View, California-the heart of Silicon Valley - with international offices in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. # # # ©2000 Cobalt Networks, Inc., the Cobalt logo, Cobalt Networks, Cube, Cobalt Qube, Cobalt RaQ, RaQ, Cobalt CacheRaQ and Cobalt NASRaQ, and Cobalt StaQware are trademarks of Cobalt Networks, Inc. Other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Certain statements in this press release include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different from expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with industry trends related to Internet service providers, the adoption of clustering technologies and market acceptance of Cobalt's products for those uses. Investors are advised to read Cobalt's Annual Report on Form 10-Kand its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of such risks and uncertainties as well as the other uncertainties and risks Cobalt faces.