Crash-proof servers backed with cash

Stratus Technologies, a maker of Windows servers with redundant components designed to kick in if primary modules fail, will announce a program Monday to pay customers $100,000 if their server hardware or operating system fails unexpectedly. The program applies to Stratus' top-of-the-line ftServer 6500 machines running Windows 2000 Advanced Server, using triple-redundant modules and covered by the company's Business Critical Service.

Stratus' ftServer line, also developed and sold through a partnership with NEC, has carefully vetted software to try to protect against some operating system problems.