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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Systems/Enterprise:
SUN, AMD TO OFFER NEW iForce
PARTNER PROGRAM FOR AMD OPTERON
With the announcement that Sun Microsystems Inc and AMD have formed an
alliance to deliver a broad range of AMD Opteron processor-based systems, Sun
also announced it plans to offer its Java Enterprise System on the AMD Opteron
processor and is significantly extending the reach of its Solaris Operating
System (OS) and leadership in the 64-bit space. The alliance intends to
provide increased market opportunities for ISVs, OEMs and channel partners by
offering an industrial strength, affordable platform that has been fully
optimized and tuned for the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor.
With the Sun Java Enterprise System and tools on the Solaris OS for the AMD
Opteron processor, customers can also benefit from the seamless scalability
from single systems to entire compute farms. Building on more than 20 years of
OS innovation and a solid history with the 64-bit platform, the Solaris OS is
built for 32- and 64-bit application co-existence, enabling maximized
performance for existing 32-bit applications.
"Sun is in a unique competitive position against HP and IBM -- who now find
themselves lacking an operating system on either Intel or AMD Opteron, and
fighting a systems war without weaponry," said Jonathan Schwartz, executive
vice president of software at Sun. "Sun's commitment to Solaris and the Java
Enterprise System across multiple operating systems, shows us to be the only
systems vendor offering a single system capable of running across multiple
microprocessors -- Intel, AMD Opteron and SPARC. With nearly 500,000 Solaris
licenses delivered into the market this year alone, our focus on volume, scale
and security stands as a beacon for HP and IBM customers facing a dead-end
Unix, and Microsoft customers frustrated with security and fragility. They
both now have a safe landing zone, based on open standards, and available on
all industry standard hardware."
As part of the alliance, Sun and AMD plan to collaborate to optimize the
performance of the Solaris OS, the Java platform and developer tools for AMD
Opteron processor-based systems. The Solaris OS on the 64-bit AMD Opteron
processor platform is expected to be available in the first half of 2004
through Sun's innovative early-access Software Express for Solaris program.
Furthermore, Sun and AMD intend to work jointly with the Linux community to
define and promote a 64-bit UNIX-Linux Application Binary Interface (ABI) to
enable interoperability. UNIX or Linux applications could run natively on any
operating systems supporting this ABI.
"By running the current version of the Solaris OS on the AMD Opteron
processor
platform, we are experiencing substantial improvements in kernel performance
for Solaris over other x86-based systems," said John Fowler, chief technology
officer of software at Sun Microsystems. "With the Solaris OS running on the
AMD Opteron processor, our customers and partners can take advantage of unique
features such as containers delivering virtualization and high levels of
security. Solaris has led the industry in proven military grade security
built-in to the OS, and with Trusted Solaris OS, offering unmatched levels of
privacy."
By offering its innovative Java Enterprise System software stack for both
the
Solaris OS and Linux on the AMD Opteron processor, Sun can bring huge
value-add to the AMD Opteron processor platform and thus create new
possibilities for ISVs and resellers in new markets. Key components of the
Java Enterprise System are identity, directory, portal and availability
servers.
"Sun's commitment to the AMD Opteron processor platform further catapults
our
growing ISV support for enterprise customers," said Marty Seyer, vice
president and general manager of the Microprocessor Business Unit at AMD.
"This alliance can deliver what enterprise customers have been asking for -- a
simplified transition to 64-bit computing combined with a mature x86
architecture and a proven enterprise operating system."
Sun and AMD plan to provide ISVs and developers with the information,
tools,
and community required to speed their solutions to market. The companies
intend to collaborate to produce the Sun/AMD Developer Resource Kit which will
include the Solaris OS, Linux support information, the AMD Developer Resource
Kit, the Sun Java Studio (including C, C++, and Java development tools),
Getting Started information, and access to the iForce Partner Program for the
AMD Opteron processor. They also intend to include the Java System Studio 8
Compiler Collection for the Solaris OS, delivering complete language systems
and tools designed to simplify software development. A seed unit program for
ISVs is also planned. Information on the iForce Partner Program for the AMD
Opteron processor, and the Sun/AMD Developer Resource Kit is available at
http://www.sun.com/amd . Sun's new AMD Opteron processor-based systems along
with the robust offerings of Sun Java Software Systems with the Solaris OS or
Linux can greatly strengthen the product portfolios of Sun's iForce channel
and reseller partners, extending their product lines for low-cost,
high-performance computing and expanding their opportunities to compete in new
markets, as well as exceeding customer satisfaction within their existing
installed base.
About The Solaris Operating System
The Solaris OS, the No. 1 Enterprise-Class UNIX, redefines the operating
system for SPARC, x86 and AMD Opteron processor-based systems as a services
platform by combining traditional OS functionality with application services
and identity management. The Solaris OS delivers the security, manageability
and performance that IT professionals need to increase service levels and
decrease costs and risk. The Solaris OS also serves as the foundation for the
new Sun Java Enterprise System, an integrated, open, standards-based software
system delivered using a new predictable approach for development, testing and
servicing. It offers a simple business model that provides a single
subscription and price for the software system, maintenance, support,
consulting and education services. For more information please visit
www.sun.com/solaris.
About Java Enterprise System
Serious software made simple, the Java Enterprise System seamlessly
integrates award-winning and market-leading enterprise network applications
and services at the heart of Web services. This complete system of
standards-based software is delivered as one entity on a pre- integrated
infrastructure. The Java System Portal Server, Java System Directory Server,
Java System Identity Server, Java System Web Server, Java System Messaging
Server, Java System Calendar Server, Java System Instant Messaging and Java
System Application Server are key components of the Sun Java Enterprise
System. For more information on the Java Enterprise System please visit www.sun.com/software/javaentrprisesystem.
About Sun Microsystems Inc
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The
Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems Inc to its position as a leading
provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the
Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide
Web at sun.com/.
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