ENGINEERING

Absoft Corporation today announced it will manage, sell, and support a new High Performance Computing (HPC) Software Developers’ Kit (SDK) for IBM Linux on POWER™ clusters and servers. The new Absoft HPC SDK is expected to become the standard HPC Development Kit offered to developers for IBM Linux on POWER servers and clusters. The new kit will include compilers, debugging solutions, message passing libraries, numerical libraries, and other software tools used by developers in the ’Build-Debug-Run-Optimize’ development cycle for high-performance computing applications. Tools included in the SDK are from IBM, Absoft, and other manufacturers and open source providers. Easy to install, simple-to-use and incorporating the most powerful best-of-breed high performance computing development tools available, the new Absoft HPC SDK will be developed for all configurations of IBM Linux on POWER clusters and servers. The basic HPC SDK comes pre-configured and includes: IBM’s performance leading XL Fortran and XL C/C++ compilers, Absoft’s multi-platform compatible Fortran95 compiler, Absoft’s multi-language Fx2 Debugging Solution, IBM’s highly optimized ESSL Mathematical and Scientific Libraries and LAM/MPI. The HPC SDK also comes with a common installer and a common license manager available exclusively from Absoft. “IBM shares with Absoft a mission to provide our clients with simplified and cost effective applications for high-performance computing,” said Brian Connors, vice president of Linux on POWER, IBM Systems & Technology Group. “This announcement is yet another example of IBM’s deep commitment to our partners as we expand the Linux on POWER ecosystem and provide our mutual customers what they’re looking for - the highest performing, most reliable solutions available anywhere.” Other enhanced SDK options will soon include floating network licenses, a parallel debugger, performance analysis tools, memory tuning software and more. Top products from other vendors and open sources will be made available. Availability of the HPC SDK for Linux on POWER is expected in late 2004 directly from Absoft and IBM for IBM Linux on POWER configurations running SUSE SLES 9 or Red Hat’s RHEL 3 or later Linux distributions. Support for Linux Standard Base 2.0 is also planned. “Absoft is a proven provider of its own very reliable compilers and debugging tools for IBM Departmental Supercomputing users as well a very successful reseller of IBM XL Fortran and XL C/C++ compilers worldwide” said Brian Connor, Vice President, IBM Linux on Power. “Through this new offering, IBM and Absoft are working closely together to expand the Linux on Power ecosystem by providing superior software development solutions to scientists and engineers worldwide who are looking for the highest, most reliable performance available. The new Absoft HPC SDK expands IBM offerings and leverages both IBM’s and Absoft’s reputations for delivering complete solutions, making an attractive combination for migrating high-performance computing (HPC) projects to Linux On Power.” “We are pleased to expand our business relationship and product offerings with an industry leader like IBM in the high performance computing market.” said Wood Lotz, President of Absoft. “The HPC SDK combines the latest and best-performing tools for high performance supercomputing with Linux on Power in a complete, cost effective package. The purchase and installation process is simple – when you receive the software it just works – everything is pre-configured and easily installed so that HPC developers can be productive from the moment they receive this solution from Absoft and IBM.” The Absoft HPC SDK is expected to be available for shipment beginning in December 2004 as a pre-configured package based on the number of processors and the number of simultaneous users on the HPC system. Prices start at $5,000 for commercial versions. Product and ordering information are available at http://www.absoft.com/Products/Clusters/hpcsdk.html, by calling Absoft at (248) 853-0050, or by emailing sales@absoft.com. Based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Absoft Corporation is a world leader in software development tools. Since 1980 Absoft has led the scientific and engineering software community by introducing the first commercial 32-bit Fortran compilers for Macintosh, Windows-NT, Linux and HPC environments. Absoft business partners include: Apple, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Motorola, Cray Research, Sun and Silicon Graphics. Absoft is the sole provider of source-compatible Fortran and debugging solutions for all of today’s leading computing platforms. Major educational institutions, research laboratories, and Fortune 2000 companies use Absoft tools worldwide. For more information about Absoft, visit http://www.absoft.com, e-mail sales@absoft.com, or call 248-853-0050.