IBM POWER5 Processor-Based System Outperforms Sun

December 17, 2004

IBM announced today that it has out-performed Sun with its IBM POWER5(TM) processor-based servers by setting a new standard for running Manugistics NetWORKS Fulfillment, one of the industry's leading retail applications. The new benchmark standard, based on comparisons provided by Manugistics, measured the capability for the IBM eServer(TM) p5 590 running the Manugistics application to respond to the most intense conditions in the retail business, such as surges common to year-end retail operations.

Manugistics is a leader in consumer-driven supply chain management software and solutions.

The performance test calculated a replenishment plan at a rate of more than 38.4 million Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) per hour, almost doubling previous results recorded by Sun(1) on the Sun Fire 6800. Manugistics NetWORKS Fulfillment product helps retail industry clients orchestrate the storage and flow of supply to match fluctuating demand. High performance levels on NetWORKS Fullfillment and IBM pSeries p5 590 empowers retail industry clients to adapt to these fluctuations on demand.

The recent test results confirm for clients the performance advantages of IBM systems used to run critical retail applications in real business situations.

"This benchmark demonstrates the performance advantages that clients can enjoy with POWER5 processor-based systems from IBM," stated Karl Freund, vice president, IBM eServer pSeries®. "This result demonstrates IBM's ongoing relationship with Manugistics as well as our commitment to bring some of the world's highest performing solutions available for clients who must tackle real-world challenges in retail operations."

These benchmark tests offer clients a look into the performance potential of IBM systems running Manugistics retail applications under the most demanding of circumstances. High performance on the Manugistics retail application offers clients the ability to handle even higher numbers of SKUs per hour and reap the benefits of more efficient systems management.

"The benchmark results on the IBM p5-590 are unprecedented," said Manugistics chief technology officer Jeffrey Kissling. "The robust scalability of Manugistics' supply chain software together with IBM's new POWER5 technology delivers an unparalleled benchmark and a unique combination to the marketplace."

About the Performance Tests
IBM ran the Manugistics NetWORKS Fulfillment v7.2 on the 10M Retail model.

The tests were run on a 32-way IBM eServer p5 590 system, including IBM's 1.65GHz POWER5 microprocessor technology.

Test results include:
-- Over 1.2M SKU's/HR/CPU
-- Over 38.4M SKU's/HR at system level with average. run time of 15 minutes and 42 seconds

The Manugistics NetWORKS Fulfillment benchmark is designed to measure a system's ability to perform as a demand and supply chain management solution server. The benchmark represents configurations and test conditions commonly encountered by clients that use Manugistics software. The benchmark is categorized into two areas: Demand Algorithm and Fulfillment Algorithm. The benchmark using the Fulfillment algorithm measures the throughput for a complex retail supply chain system. The Retail benchmark, builds a 42-day replenishment plan for 10 million SKUs and provides customers the opportunity to see the performance characteristics of Manugistics' critical retail supply chain replenishment application on a vendor's (i.e. IBM p5-590) system under real-world conditions.