IBM Announces New Software Strategy to Simplify Supercomputing

IBM’s High Performance File System to Be Extended to Third-Party Systems Vendors; Linux Networx Announces Vendor Licensing of GPFS

ARMONK, NY - 14 Dec 2005: IBM today announced an innovative software strategy in supercomputing, allowing customers to leverage its leading file system across mixed-vendor systems, dramatically simplifying the management of vast stores of data created through high performance computing. Linux Networx is the first hardware vendor under the strategy to license IBM’s General Parallel File System (GPFS) to help enable its customers to manage seamless data pools in mixed vendor supercomputing environments.

Linux Networx will sell, tune and support IBM’s GPFS solution at customer data centers around the world as a tightly integrated element within its LS Series of Linux Supersystems.

GPFS is an advanced file system for high performance computing clusters that provides high-speed file access to applications executing on multiple nodes of a Linux or AIX cluster. GPFS’ scalability and performance are designed to help meet the needs of data-intensive applications such as engineering design, digital media, data mining, financial analysis, seismic data processing and scientific research.

"As the popularity of Linux-based computing clustering grows, so does the need for simplified and highly performing file management software that is able to function across many hardware platforms" said David Turek, vice president of Deep Computing at IBM. "Customers will welcome the ability to use this leading file system across their data centers, in ways more flexible than ever before"

Scientists at the forefront of supercomputing have used GPFS to create a scalable parallel file system that is capable of supporting hundreds of terabytes of storage within a single highly reliable file system.

"GPFS provides excellent functionality and very scalable performance for the data-intensive, analytical applications of today’s high performance computing environments -- helping us to change the very way that science and engineering are conducted" said Bill Kramer, NERSC general manager and head of High Performance Computing at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. "Now that GPFS is available on multiple vendors’ systems, NERSC was able to implement a global file system across mixed architectures, enabling our users to be much more productive"

IBM continues its GPFS development efforts to maintain and extend its leadership in terms of feature/function, scaling, performance, and reliability to serve growing customer needs for robust cluster/parallel file systems.

IBM has several initiatives created to encourage GPFS support on all hardware platforms, including non-IBM hardware. IBM is offering access to GPFS source code to eligible clients, who may choose to adapt GPFS to other platforms and share their work with other licensees, further promoting collaboration and innovation in file systems. By providing access to the source code for GPFS, IBM is continuing its commitment to building the robust ecosystem of products that partners have come to expect when working with IBM.

About IBM
IBM is the world’s largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com.

About Linux Networx
At Linux Networx, Linux Supercomputing is our only business. We focus exclusively on solving our customer’s supercomputing challenges, blending technology innovation with real-world expertise. Our Linux supercomputers accelerate computational endeavors for more than 150 customers. Our commitment to customer success has led to record revenue growth, powering us to market leadership as The Linux Supercomputing Company.

Contact Information

Kevin Acocella

IBM Media Relations

IBM

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