For Immediate Release

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 21, 1996 At Internet Expo '96, Oracle Corp. today unveiled Oracle WebServer 2.0, the first scalable platform for building secure, dynamic Web sites and applications for use over corporate Intranets and the public Internet. Oracle WebServer 2.0 integrates high performance, advanced security and native database connectivity into a single server solution for only $2,495. Based on an open, extensible architecture, Oracle WebServer 2.0 allows users to extend its functionality and create powerful applications using popular, industry-standard development tools.

Unlike the simple technology provided in HTTP servers that dominate the Web today, Oracle's new product redefines a server for the Web; by providing true information server and management capabilities. Building on the company's long history in delivering advanced server technology, Oracle WebServer 2.0 combines the high performance, end-to-end security and extensible architecture that companies have been seeking from Internet technology. Oracle WebServer 2.0 is also the first to provide Java capabilities on the server, so users are no longer limited to creating small "applets"; that run in Web browsers.

"Internet standards continue to drive the next computing paradigm, and Oracle is the first vendor to deliver a complete solution at all levelsÑfrom workgroups to enterprises, to service and content providers," said Marc Benioff, senior vice president of Oracle's Web/Workgroup Systems Division. "As this new platform matures and becomes more sophisticated, users and administrators encounter a major information management and application development challenge. Oracle7 database-powered Web servers deliver performance, security, reliability and integration, and will drive the Web's evolution from a static, insecure medium to a full-scale application platform."

Oracle WebServer 2.0 delivers integrated capabilities that today are offered by separate HTTP servers in the marketÑHTTP listener, secure commerce, authentication and encryption capabilities. Users will no longer have to buy and integrate these Web server components separately.

High-Performance Web Server and Database Connectivity

Oracle WebServer 2.0 is built around Oracle Web Request Broker, a high-performance system for linking Oracle's WebServer to applications, databases, and ultimately even other HTTP listeners. Web Request Broker bypasses the high-overhead Common Gateway Interface (CGI) used by most Internet servers today for linking to back-end services. Web Request Broker also enables a high-performance native connection to the Oracle7 Server, which allows WebServer 2.0 to deliver relational, text, audio, video and spatial data through standard Web browsers.

End-to-End Security for Intranets and Internets

Oracle is the only vendor that can provide customers end-to-end security from browser to Web server, and to corporate databases and applications within the firewall. For Internet use, Oracle WebServer 2.0 supports the SSL 2.0 (Secure Sockets Layer) security standard for encrypting data between browser and Web server. The server also provides basic and digest authentication to prevent unauthorized access to Web server content.

Unique in the industry, Oracle WebServer 2.0 integrates with the Oracle7 database security features to provide the most advanced security available within corporate networks and can pass encrypted data through industry-leading firewall products. Secure Network Services incorporates leading encryption capabilities and advanced systems for authenticating users and ensuring data integrity. Moreover, Oracle has worked with eight top firewall vendors to pass fully encrypted data through corporate firewalls, providing end-to-end security from Intranet to Internet.

Open, Extensible Architecture for Web Developers

Oracle WebServer 2.0 offers an open, extensible architecture. Web Request Broker ensures interoperability of applications written in different languages and residing on different Web servers. As a result, users are able to write their own back-end services and plug them into the system.

Web Request Broker facilitates exchange of components implemented in all relevant industry standards, providing Oracle WebServer 2.0 with the highest level of openness in the industry. Web Request Broker supports any development language including Java, PL/SQL and C/C++, and provides an open API (application programming interface) for building server objects to extend WebServer's capabilities. Unlike simple protocol programming interfaces at the HTTP level, the Web Request Broker API is a true application programming interface for building robust, secure and manageable applications.

Plug-and-Play WebServer

Oracle WebServer 2.0 ships with several other features that make it the most versatile Web server for the Web on the market:

• Java Interpreter: Oracle WebServer 2.0 offers an integrated Java runtime environment with extensions for Oracle7, effectively enabling developers to implement dynamic Web applications using native Java classes on the server.
• PL/SQL Agent: Oracle WebServer 2.0 performs native Oracle7 processing through the PL/SQL Agent, which translates and dispatches client requests directly to the Oracle7 Server. This enables data-driven Web applications to be implemented using PL/SQL, Oracle's procedural development environment for Oracle7.
• LiveHTML Interpreter: Oracle WebServer 2.0 allows developers to use Server-Side-Includes, a mechanism for extending the capability of HTML pages by making callouts to applications and back-end servers.
• WebServer Manager: All components of the Oracle WebServer are fully configurable and manageable through the Oracle WebServer System Manager: a collection of HTML forms and on-line, context sensitive help. These administration pages allow an administrator to quickly configure the Oracle WebServer with the click of a button.

Pricing and Availability

Oracle anticipates that Oracle WebServer 2.0 will be available in late March for Windows NT and SPARC Solaris, with other platforms shipping within 30-60 days. The product will be available from Oracle for US $2,495, as well as from third-party software vendors and hardware vendors. Oracle WebServer 2.0 is also available through Oracle Value Service, a business partner subscription service designed to jumpstart Web application development using Oracle technology.

Oracle WebServer 2.0 is part of Oracle's WebSystem family of products, which

also includes Oracle PowerBrowser. Oracle PowerBrowser is now shipping as a developer release and is scheduled for availability in the second quarter of this calendar year.

Oracle Corp. is the world's leading supplier of software for information management, and the world's second largest software company. With annual revenues of approximately $3.5 billion, the company offers its database, tools and application products along with related consulting, education and support services, in more than 90 countries around the world.

For more information about Oracle, please call (415) 506-7000. Oracle's World Wide Web address is (URL) http://www.oracle.com/.

Trademarks

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Oracle7, Oracle7 Server, Secure Network Services, Oracle WebServer, Web Request Broker and PowerBrowser are trademarks of Oracle Corporation. All other products or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.