Simplicity of Stack Will Promote Industry Standardization

Intel Developer Forum- San Francisco, September 26, 2006 – Addressing the rapid migration to Linux clusters, Platform Computing is introducing Platform Open Cluster Stack (OCS), a modular and hybrid stack that transparently integrates open source and commercial software into a single consistent cluster operating environment. Platform OCS is a pre-integrated, vendor certified software stack that assures the consistent delivery of scale-out application clusters. This enhanced software stack eliminates the higher costs of development, sales and support caused by inconsistent software development and certification in Linux clusters.

At this week’s Intel Developer Forum, Intel, Dell and Platform will demonstrate the ability of Platform OCS to empower an entirely new class of users by simplifying Linux cluster application, deployment and management with a consistent, easy-to-deploy software stack. The demonstration will feature a number of off-the-shelf applications, including Fluent and LS-DYNA on a single software stack.

“Platform has worked closely with Dell and Intel to create a reference platform which simplifies cluster development not only for ISVs, but for HPC users as well,” said Gary Tyreman, VP of the Open Cluster Group, Platform Computing. “Platform’s support infrastructure gives users the best of the open source and commercial software worlds – customers get the support they expect from a commercial vendor and benefit from the unique innovation that is symbolic of open source. Because Platform OCS runs on Dell clusters and systems from a variety of vendors, ISVs are able to target a large portion of the market without increasing their development and validation costs.”

“Dell has taken a leadership position in taking the complexity out of deploying high-performance compute clusters with operational excellence,” said Judy Chavis, Director of Business Development and Global Alliances. ”Platform’s Open Cluster Stack is helping us extend our HPCC leadership by offering specific vertical market application support with the high level of performance customers expect, regardless of their desired configuration.”

“We believe Platform Computing is addressing a key industry need by providing an approach to simplify the growing use of clustered Linux computing systems,” said Bill Magro, Director of Cluster Software and Technologies, Intel. “The availability of a pre-integrated cluster stack such as Platform OCS, built using common core elements and interfaces such as Intel MPI runtime libraries, DAPL, and OpenFabrics, will enable interconnect flexibility while providing consistency in the development and deployment of clustered platforms for ISVs and end users.”

Platform OCS is the latest offering of the successful distribution model established with Dell and Platform over the last two and a half years and offers enhanced support of the Platform Rocks package. Platform OCS is backed by a global 24x7 enterprise support infrastructure and features the industry leading Rocks Clusterä toolkit as a framework.

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About Platform

Platform Computing is the leading systems infrastructure software company that accelerates applications and delivers IT agility for increased business performance and reduced cost. Founded in 1992, Platform is a pioneer in HPC, Cluster and Grid Computing technologies. Platform has over 2000 global customers and strategic relationships with Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, Red Hat and SAS, along with the industry's broadest support for third-party applications. For more information please visit http://www.platform.com