Sun Promotes Migration From Microsoft

In a bid to further its position in the Web server market Sun Microsystems today announced an aggressive migration program enabling current Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) customers simple transition to iPlanet Web Server, Enterprise Edition 6.0.

Offering detailed migration guides, free Sun Chili!Soft ASP software that allows customers to run Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) code unchanged on iPlanet Web Server, and a 37 percent price cut on iPlanet Web Server software, Sun says the program offers a cost-effective alternative for companies concerned about frequent Microsoft IIS security warnings, including Code Red and Nimda.

Says Joe Keller, VP and general manager of application services at iPlanet: “We’ve received overwhelming customer demand for a program that offers companies a quick, easy way to migrate to iPlanet Web Server so they can reduce their concern about the growing list of new security vulnerabilities.” He adds that iPlanet takes product design issues and security seriously for all products in the Sun Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) portfolio.

Citing reports from the Gartner Group last week that recommended enterprises hit by both Code Red and Nimda to replace their Microsoft Internet Information Server software, iPlanet is playing up its security records compared with IIS, arguing it is not under active attack by the vast number of virus and worm writers.

The price reduction for iPlanet Web Server, Enterprise Edition 6.0 — from $1,495 per CPU to $940 per CPU — will be offered through March 31, 2002 to customers using any web server product other than iPlanet.