BIG DATA

AMD expands Validated Server Program; empowers solution providers with increased platform choice and new opportunities to engage customers: At LinuxWorld San Francisco this week, AMD announced the availability of AMD Validated Server platforms certified for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell, further confirming AMD’s commitment to the channel by offering solution providers the ability to brand and differentiate their solutions to address customer needs. With today’s news, AMD is delivering solution providers a validated server platform with Novell “YES Certified” designation that is compatible with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and will be fully supported by both AMD and Novell. “Customers look to reduce complexity and risk when configuring and deploying Linux server operating systems, so having validated platforms available for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server helps remove adoption hurdles for customers,” said Al Gillen, research vice president, System Software, at IDC. “Integrated platforms also ease the way for solution providers to more quickly build and bring to market customized solutions that meet customers’ needs.” Together, AMD and Novell are providing solution providers with more choice through an easier, faster and less expensive process by which to obtain certified and pre-configured Linux-based server platforms. Having completed the Novell YES Certified testing on AMD Validated Server barebones platforms, Supermicro Computer, Tyan Computer Corporation and Uniwide Technologies are the first original design manufacturers to offer these platforms. Solution providers will now have the ability to leverage this testing and offer configured Novell YES Certified SKUs, expediting the certification process dramatically. “In a highly competitive market, system builders stand to benefit greatly by offering customers choice,” said Stephen DiFranco, corporate vice president, Sales and Marketing, AMD. “The ability to offer AMD Validated Server platforms that are Novell-certified will be a tremendous business advantage for solution providers. This will empower them to deliver differentiated solutions based on open standards with the flexibility and reliability their customers demand. And, at the end of the day, the program’s benefits will ultimately flow all the way through to the end-user of the server system.” AMD Validated Server platforms for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server represent another milestone in the relationship between AMD and Novell. AMD’s alignment with the Novell YES Certified program will help broaden the AMD Validated Server program’s reach into the Linux community, enabling solution providers to offer their customers the choice of high-quality, reliable, and stable open-standard server solutions based on state-of-the-art technology. “The combination of two powerful channel programs like AMD’s Validated Server program and the Novell YES Certified program offers solution providers the ability to sell customized server platforms with the highest degree of confidence,” said Justin Steinman, director of marketing for Linux and Open Platform Solutions at Novell. “As one of the world’s leading operating systems, SUSE Linux Enterprise offers customers a secure, simple- to-manage and easy-to-use foundation for enterprise computing. We are pleased to now offer solution providers the reliability and security that come with AMD Validated Server platforms for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.” “Historically, smaller system builders like us have faced an uphill battle against large OEMs, because we create unique, custom products that are often too complex for blanket certification,” said Gautam Shah, CEO at Colfax International. “Having access to AMD Validated Server platforms with Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server will help to level the playing field and allow us to offer our customers unique and trustworthy products – engendering the same level of confidence they would have with a major OEM.”