Novell Validates High Performance Computing Stack on Linux

WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) today announced an integrated, tested and validated solution for high performance computing. Based on the HP BladeSystem solution, SUSE(TM) Linux Enterprise Server from Novell, and additional components from Novell(R) and HP partners, the solution constitutes the first high performance computing (HPC) offering under Novell's Validated Configuration Program, launched earlier this year. As a result, customers can now to take full advantage of high performance computing on Linux, making it easier to deploy a complex, clustered Linux-based infrastructure with a flexible, fully tested, fully integrated solution backed by Novell and HP.

"The combination of HP's BladeSystem and Proliant servers and SUSE Linux being provided under Novell's Validation Configuration Program delivers a complete, easy to setup and install HPC hardware and software offering that is highly secure, scalable, and enterprise ready,"said Robert Desautels, President, Harvard Research Group, Inc. "Researchers, scientists, and business professionals who rely on high performance compute clusters to meet their mission critical requirements should put this offering on their short list."

Organizations are increasingly turning to high performance computing to deliver the massive computing power required for challenges ranging from high-end, intensive scientific and engineering problems to commercial data-intensive tasks. Seismic analysis for oil exploration, aerodynamic simulation for motor and aircraft design, molecular modeling for biomedical research, and data mining and financial modeling for business analysis all leverage high performance computing. Organizations are also adopting clusters based on Linux to ensure constant uptime while still leveraging the flexibility, reliability and low cost of open source.

The design and operation of a clustered HPC infrastructure are complex, often involving multiple components from different suppliers, each of which must interoperate seamlessly to provide mission-critical standards of performance and reliability. Novell and HP now offer a solution that meets these challenges, enabling organizations to realize the benefits of Linux-based HPC quickly and cost effectively.

"HP examined the insight we had gained from our HP Linux Reference Architectures development and customer implementations, and we realized that adding an HPC stack was a natural way for us to extend the benefits of Linux integration to our HPC customers," said Efrain Rovira, worldwide director, Open Source and Linux Organization, HP. "This validated configuration is a critical component in our offerings to the HPC sector, which does the heaviest computational lifting of all."

This solution has been tailored to address the needs of five industries with clearly identified high performance computing requirements: electronic design automation, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing and oil and gas. For each of these vertical industries, a specific solution bundle has been developed, allowing customers to choose a configuration that has been designed and tuned to meet their industry-specific requirements. (See attached Fact Sheet for solution components.)

"Novell's Validated Configuration Program shifts the cost and complexity of testing the compatibility of multiple components away from individual customers, and onto Novell and its partners," said David Patrick, vice president, Linux and Open Source Platforms and Services at Novell. "This represents a significant advance over ordinary industry certification programs by ensuring that a particular application or hardware platform performs well in conjunction with multiple other components, removing real business risk for the customer." Availability

Validated Configuration data, which includes performance test results, recommended configuration information, and best practices for deployment, is currently available from Novell and HP. Additionally, hardware, software, and comprehensive services for the entire solution stack are available from HP. Interested customers should contact their local HP or Novell sales office for Validated Configuration solutions and information. About Novell

Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of infrastructure software and services to over 50,000 customers in 43 countries. With more than 20 years of experience in data center, workgroup and desktop solutions, Novell's 6,000 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the world are meeting customer requirements for identity-driven computing and Linux solutions. By providing enterprise-class software and support for commercial and open source software, Novell delivers increased operating flexibility and choice at a lower total cost of ownership. More information about Novell can be found at http://www.novell.com . NOTE: Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a trademark of SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, a Novell business. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. FACT SHEET

Components of the Validated Configuration solution for high performance computing include: -- HP ProLiant servers that combine simplicity and efficiency of design,

the low cost of industry standards and enterprise management tools to

create an ideal platform for open source and Linux solutions.

-- SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, Novell's flagship Linux operating

system, with industry leading security, scalability and performance

capabilities.

-- Scali Manage/MPI Connect, providing infrastructure installation and

on-going management

-- Altair PBS Professional, providing workload management and job

scheduling

-- PolyServe Matrix Server and Cluster Volume Manager, delivering scalable

and resilient NFS fileserving

-- DataSynapse GRIDServer, providing resource management for financial

services including cluster solutions

-- United Devices GRIP MP which provides solutions integration for life

sciences applications, including clusters

-- TurboWorx Suite Builder, Enterprise Hub and Cluster Manager, which

delivers workflow management and application performance

-- Meiosys MetaCluster HPC, which delivers application virtualization and

checkpoint restart

-- Axceleon Enfuzion, which provides parametric scheduling and job

management targeted at rendering and power utility computing