“Univa UD” offers industrial-strength open source solutions: Univa and United Devices (UD), pioneers in the grid computing and cluster software arenas, announced today that the companies have merged. The combined entity, “Univa UD,” will offer a comprehensive set of cluster and grid solutions based on open source and proprietary components. Univa UD combines Univa’s best-of-breed open-source components with UD’s commercially proven grid technologies into a solution set whose breadth is unparalleled. High Performance Computing (HPC) solutions include a free, downloadable open source cluster management product, a fully supported pro version with rich functionality, and an enterprise-class grid solution based on UD’s award-winning Grid MP™ technology. Data Center automation solutions include a policy driven, SLA based platform for delivering mainstream applications such as SAP, Oracle, and VM management as a service. “Univa UD marks a new era in cluster and grid computing,” said Jason Liu, president and chief executive officer of Univa, who will hold the same position at Univa UD. “Customers will finally get access to industrial-strength open source products that are both proven and cost-effective. Our combined technology and implementation expertise, as well as the breadth of the solution set, represent the alternative to traditional offerings that customers have been waiting for.” Univa UD said it would announce a detailed product roadmap the week of Oct. 15, which Steve Tuecke, Univa UD’s chief technology officer, will be presenting at the Open Grid Forum meeting in Seattle. All existing products of both companies will continue to be supported and enhanced. “The market is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with expensive, pure-proprietary solutions from vendors who charge high licensing fees and tie them to long-term maintenance contracts,” said Ben Rouse, president and chief executive officer of UD. “Customers want hybrid solutions that combine high-end, proprietary capabilities with standards-based, open source components. Univa UD combines open source technology from pioneers in HPC and grid with proven, commercial grade solutions from UD who has a loyal and very satisfied customer base.” “Univa UD will be an open source software company that provides value-added technology on top of the basic open source download offering, much like the business models of other successful open source companies like SugarCRM and XenSource,” said Dr. Ian Foster, a co-founder of Univa who is widely recognized as one of the fathers of grid technology and who will serve as the open source strategist for the combined company. Finally, data center automation will remain a core and strategic initiative at Univa UD. Jikku Venkat, formerly UD’s chief technology officer, will lead a separate, data center focused business unit. The company said it plans to invest heavily in the data center automation market, as business needs continue to blur the lines between traditional HPC and the data center. Univa UD is a global company with customers distributed across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company said it would continue to actively market its products and maintain its current customer and partner relationships in all three regions. Univa UD will launch its new corporate website on October 15, 2007 at www.univaud.com. Because both companies are privately held, financial details of the merger have not been disclosed.