Netscapes Andreessen is back in valley's spotlight

Netscape Communications founder Marc Andreessen formally stepped back into

the Silicon Valley high-tech limelight, six months after he left his job as

chief technology officer at America Online. Andreessen's new company, Loudcloud

will provide Internet and other technology companies services for building and

managing software, database computers and other equipment. The services will

include access to high-priced servers and highly skilled network and database

administrators. "We're going to pour rocket fuel on Internet dotcoms,"

said Andreessen during a speech at the Demo 2000 conference in Indian Wells,

California.

Loudcloud has received $68 million in start-up funding. "It's going to

be a lot harder to start and grow an Internet business," said Andreessen, who

is chairman of Loudcloud. "You have to get to market as fast as possible.

We'll help you do that." Andreessen said the opportunity for a company like

Loudcloud is almost limitless at this point. "Every waiter has an Internet

business plan." Hewlett-Packard is teaming up with Loudcloud as a key

business partner that will provide Intel-based servers running on the linux

operating system. The HP deal will help Loudcloud rapidly develop and deploy its

Linux-based "smart software" on Intel-based servers.

Andreessen said demand for a company's online capacity can skyrocket

overnight if a hot Internet start-up gets a mention on a national newscast, or

broadcasts a commercial during the SuperBowl, LoudCloud can double or triple the

company's on-line call-handling capacity in just 15 minutes. The Encyclopedia

Britannica's online launch fiasco is a good example as sudden media attention to

the launch jammed the firm's Web site for weeks.