MAYNARD, Mass., Nov. 16, 2004 ¾ Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union has chosen Stratus Technologies’ continuous availability server systems as the foundation of a program to develop an array of services such as dispensing stamps and providing account mini-statements through the Denali Alaskan automated teller machine network. The Stratus® ftServer® W Series 3300 system gives Denali Alaskan’s ATM network 99.999 percent uptime through redundant hardware and failsafe software systems.
The ftServer W Series 3300 system, running Mosaic Software’s Postilion automated teller/ electronic funds transfer software, supports Denali Alaskan’s 36 ATMs as part of an end-to-end solution provided by Diebold, Incorporated. In operation since January 2004, the Intel Xeon-based, continuous-availability server has built-in preventative ActiveServiceTM capabilities that connect Denali Alaskan to a global service network for detecting, troubleshooting and resolving problems before they affect customer service.
Anchorage-based Denali Alaskan considered using conventional servers with dual processors clustered to provide additional availability. Diebold, however, urged Denali Alaskan to use Stratus because of its superior record of delivering constant uptime and because Denali Alaskan would not have to modify the Mosaic software to run on the ftServer system, as it would with a server cluster.
"The Stratus ftServer system was the better choice because people have zero tolerance for unavailable ATMs, and we have zero tolerance for things that make customers unhappy," said John Layton, Denali Alaskan’s assistant vice president of payment systems. "ATMs are intended to be a self-service channel with 24- hour convenience, and we decided that Stratus was best able to provide it. We considered building a server semi-comparable to Stratus at the same cost, but the other approach didn’t provide the same availability."
Denali Alaskan brought its ATM switching infrastructure in-house on the Stratus-Mosaic-Diebold solution so it can manage its own network and continuously add innovative new services. In addition to stamps and account mini-statements, Denali Alaskan is also deploying on-screen advertising and immediately posting deposited checks to make the funds available to customers on the spot. This technologically advanced platform lets Denali set up and configure ATMs and add new services through a point-and-click graphical interface.
"Banking is as much about good faith and trust as it is processing transactions. Our continuous availability is an important tool for maintaining that good faith and trust," said Philip Izzo, Stratus director of business development, financial services. "Our platform will give Denali Alaskan’s customers constant access to transactions at the same time this innovative credit union expands its services portfolio."
