Clusters Analysis and Recommendations

This document is an interoffice memorandum from June 18, 1982, regarding Digital's CI (Computer Interconnect) Cluster Program. It provides a strategic analysis of the multi-computer systems market, including the 'High Availability', 'General Purpose', and 'Emerging' market segments. The document outlines the competitive landscape—highlighting Tandem Computers and IBM—and presents detailed recommendations for the CI Cluster Program, such as aggressive market introduction, integration with related technologies like Local Area Networks (NI) and the VAX Information Architecture, and the development of robust service and support structures. It also includes an outline of the cluster architecture and its technical components, such as the CI, I/O servers (HSC-50), and mass storage protocols, emphasizing the transition from single-system focus to systems integration in emerging computing markets.