TORONTO, CANADA -- To help drive Linux further into the enterprise, Platform Computing Inc. announced that it will debut Platform Clusterware(TM) for Linux, a comprehensive cluster management solution for enterprises using Linux clusters to deliver improved computing performance and productivity, at LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in New York this week. The industry's first hardware-independent, commercially supported solution for cluster management, Platform Clusterware easily integrates with and complements existing Linux solutions to provide a comprehensive solution with workload management, system monitoring and administration, and provisioning (installation and configuration) capabilities. This will enable enterprises in industries such as bioinformatics, research and education, manufacturing and financial services to roll out clusters faster, reduce operational costs, and improve computing productivity. Platform Clusterware will be available through Platform's global reseller network, including InterVision and MSC Software, and through new OEM partners such as Atipa Technologies and RLX Technologies, who will integrate it with their existing solutions to provide customized cluster management solutions to their customers. "Our research shows that the top challenge for users of clusters is system management," said Debra Goldfarb, group vice president, worldwide systems and servers, IDC. "Widespread availability of easy-to-use cluster management tools is key to furthering adoption of Linux in existing and new markets." Analysts project that clusters will become the dominant server architecture, with particularly strong growth in the technical computing markets. Overall, the cluster market is expected to grow by almost 35 percent to reach $2.27 billion by 2005, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). According to a new study released by IDC, Linux will become the dominant operating system in the cluster environment, growing from a base of $226 million to $1.4 billion by 2005. "With Platform Clusterware, enterprises can have more confidence deploying Linux for applications requiring very high levels of performance and reliability," said Paul Hill, vice president, Marketing, Platform. "Traditionally, in order to implement a comprehensive Linux cluster management solution, enterprises have had to integrate solutions from a variety of different sources. With Platform Clusterware, we can provide one complete solution to help enterprises leverage the full power and performance capabilities of their Linux clusters, with built-in scalability for Grid computing." Platform Clusterware integrates components from Platform's flagship workload management software, Platform LSF; its resource management software, Platform SiteAssure; and server provisioning capabilities. This end-to-end solution combines proactive system monitoring and administration, plus load balancing, high availability, job scheduling and remote Web access, to manage distributed workload processing across the whole cluster. Platform Clusterware delivers transparent access to vast computing resources and centralized management of the cluster as a single, virtual server, and enables the limitless extension of Linux compute cluster capacity through Platform LSF and Platform LSF ActiveCluster. Platform Clusterware has built-in Grid migration paths that can be exploited to enable the large scale sharing of resources, networks, and databases across organizational boundaries. "The technical computing market is shifting to distributed clusters, which is driving demand for more cycles, particularly in industries such as bioinformatics and financial services," continued Platform's Hill. "With Platform Clusterware, enterprises can access massive processing and computation capability across all Linux-based hardware platforms, enabling them to achieve greater levels of productivity, increased ROI, reduced time to market, and higher quality results by running simulations and analyses faster than previously possible." With easy visibility and flexible control of all jobs, Platform Clusterware helps enterprise user complete important work faster and reliably, and offers three key benefits to simplify cluster management: * ability to view the 'cluster as a server' in a transparent, single system environment, with service and capacity available on demand; * simplified management and administration through a dynamic cluster of server boxes with centralized administration and management, integrated with other clusters and servers; and * reduced application complexity, with transparency to existing applications and easy integration of new applications. Platform Clusterware 1.0 will be available in March 2002 through Platform's network of global resellers in Canada, China, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, the U.S. and Taiwan and OEM partners, such as Atipa Technologies and RLX Technologies. Atipa Technologies is a provider of Linux-based hardware, software and professional services, providing multi-platform enterprise management software and support. RLX Technologies is the leader in high-density blade computing platforms and the leading supplier of a new class of ultra-dense server products that have dramatically recast the dynamics of the server marketplace. Platform Clusterware supports Linux for Intel and Compaq Alpha as well as Debian, RedHat Linux 7.0 and SuSE Linux, and integrates easily with major applications including Ansys, Avanti, BLAST, Cadence, Engenious, Fluent, LIONS, MSI and Synopsys. For more information visit www.platform.com