AMD's Open Platform Management Architecture Embraced by Industry-Leading Server Manageability Technology Providers

AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced key industry acceptanceand support of its Open Platform Management Architecture (OPMA)specification that defines a common system interface between theserver motherboard and its management subsystem. Leadinginfrastructure vendors, system builders and solution providers workedwith AMD to develop the specification, which was published earlierthis year. Many have now expressed significant commercial-grade serverproduct plans which embrace the OPMA approach to system management,including OPMA-compliant management subsystem cards and serverproducts based on the AMD Opteron(TM) processor.

"AMD has an unwavering focus on fostering a collaborative,connected business model that delivers flexibility and choice to bothtechnology developers and end-users," said Marty Seyer, corporate vicepresident, Commercial Business and Performance Computing, AMD. "TheOPMA specification and its industry acceptance exemplify how AMDinnovates within industry standards to help deliver best-in-breedplatform-level solutions for servers."

OPMA defines a complete system interface that allows a wide rangeof management subsystems to be attached to server motherboards in astandardized way. It specifies connector type, signal list, pin out,mechanicals, power, firmware interfaces and resource requirements forboth the motherboard and management subsystem card. Ultimately,end-users can benefit from open standards like OPMA. It is astandardized management subsystem infrastructure designed to spawnmore accessible and cost-effective server management technology byenabling the development of a variety of solutions that span a rangeof capabilities and price points.

Broad Industry Support

Among those firms offering or planning to offer OPMA-compliantmanagement subsystems are Agilent Technologies, American MegatrendsInc. (AMI), Avocent, Raritan/Peppercon and Renesas Technology. OtherOPMA adopters who supply motherboards and platforms include Arima,Celestica, Tyan Computer Corp. and Verari Systems.

"Agilent Technologies provides server OEMs and ODMs withbest-in-class baseboard management and digital KVM solutions. OPMA asan open standard is the perfect platform to take advantage ofAgilent's highly integrated Remote Management Processors," saidChristiane Roche, business team manager, Agilent Technologies."Complemented by Agilent's remote management firmware, OPMA-basedsolutions will provide unrivaled flexibility and feature richness toend-user customers."

"AMD's OPMA specification provides hardware vendors with aflexible approach to system management," said S. Shankar, AMIpresident. "AMI has been making remote management solutions since 1997and is introducing the fourth-generation MegaRAC(R) managementsolution utilizing the OPMA connector. AMI's MegaRAC M100, M200 andM300 OPMA-based daughter cards will help reduce costs and time tomarket for server OEMs and motherboard manufacturers."

"We are proud that Raritan/Peppercon's expertise in theKVM-over-IP and embedded system management market, and our closerelationships with server and motherboard OEMs, helped AMD and itscollaborators develop the OPMA specification for connecting managementsubsystems to a common system interface within a server platform,"said Dr. Christian Patz, CEO at Peppercon, a major provider ofecosystem subcomponents for AMD Opteron processor-based servers. "Bysupporting AMD's OPMA common interface standard, we help our customersreduce platform development risk, cost and time to market."

The OPMA specification is available for download from AMD's Website at www.amd.com/OPMA.

About the AMD Opteron(TM) Processor

More than 85 percent of the top 100 of the Forbes Global 2000companies or their subsidiaries, representing the world's mostcompetitive industries, now use AMD Opteron(TM) processor-basedsystems to run applications at new levels of performance. The AMDOpteron processor, based on AMD64 technology with Direct ConnectArchitecture, made history as the industry's first x86 multi-coreprocessor for servers and workstations that is both 32- and 64-bitcapable. Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors can deliver higherperformance within the same power envelope as single-core processorsbecause they were designed from the ground up for multi-corecomputing. With a broad portfolio of dual-core and single-coresolutions and a robust 64-bit ecosystem, AMD and its customers areleading the way to the next evolution of enterprise computing.

About AMD

AMD (NYSE:AMD) designs and produces innovative microprocessors,Flash memory devices and low-power processor solutions for thecomputer, communications and consumer electronics industries. AMD isdedicated to delivering standards-based, customer-focused solutionsfor technology users, ranging from enterprises and governments toindividual consumers. For more information visit www.amd.com.

(C) 2005 AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Opteron and combinationsthereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other namesare for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of theirrespective owners.