In Summary

• The core technical problem stems from the fact that SAP R/3 pushes the envelope in the Windows environment. Microsoft Windows is a 32-bit operating system that quickly hits limits in capacity for applications like SAP. The current 64-bit UNIX-based systems have been the choice of CIOs and IT managers because of the broader memory addressability and inherent scalability in performance. Also, there has been a known ceiling in Windows performance that results from a combination of crunching the database with a maximum number of algorithms, and functionalities such as limitations on the amount of throughput that is made available.

• Companies who stand to benefit the most from Itanium-based systems are ones who are in the extended manufacturing industry, especially those doing process, discrete, or repetitive manufacturing.

• Hewlett-Packard's Itanium 2 server creates a performance booster for SAP R/3 on Windows and demonstrates why Itanium 2 servers will take early leadership in the market. HP provides customers with the best performance and scalability for SAP R/3 on Windows. It has the best price–performance and most accurate ROI measurement for the overall implementation. Also, it has the most rapid, risk-free implementation for boosting Windows/SAP R/3 performance and scalability.

• The SAP Itanium 2-based solution provides industry-leading price performance and the most accurate ROI measurement for the overall implementation. While it may not match the broad scalability of UNIX-based systems, this development alone provides a solid financial reason to make the move to Itanium.