SANTA CLARA, CA -- Marking the industry's first Linux distribution of a key enabling grid technology from a major systems vendor, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced that Grid Engine 5.3 software is now being distributed by SuSE Linux in the new release of SuSE Linux 8.0 Professional Edition. With this distribution, SuSE Linux users worldwide now can leverage the benefits of grid computing through implementing cluster grids using Sun's advanced and easy-to-use grid technology. Sun's Grid Engine distributed resource management (DRM) software is a driving force behind grid implementations in technical, commercial and academic research computing environments worldwide. Sun Grid Engine software has experienced rapid adoption and today powers more than 150,000 CPUs in over 4,000 grids worldwide. Nearly 35% of those CPUs are in Linux environments. By making Grid Engine 5.3 software available with SuSE Linux's 8.0 Professional Edition, SuSE Linux can deliver the power of grid computing to the growing community of Linux users. This new distribution is further evidence of Sun's commitment to making its software available and optimized for the Linux operating system. Sun is one of the largest providers of intellectual property to the Linux and open source communities with the Grid Engine Project as a key contribution. SUSE LINUX EXPANDS ACCESS TO SUN GRID COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY Through the distribution of Grid Engine 5.3 with SuSE Linux 8.0 Professional Edition, Sun and SuSE continue to expand the availability of grid computing technology. Sun's vision to enable the adoption of grid computing started in September 2000 with the release of Sun Grid Engine software, which Sun followed with the launch of the Grid Engine Project (www.gridengine.sunsource.net) and the release of approximately 500,000 lines of Grid Engine source code available under an open source license. The Grid Engine Project, an open source initiative managed by Collabnet and created with funding from Sun, collaboratively advances the development and use of grid computing technology across the industry's various platforms, including Solaris, Linux and others. ``Distributing Grid Engine software with SuSE Linux 8.0 will catalyze the adoption of grid computing and significantly increases the exposure of grid computing in the Linux and Unix communities,'' said Wolfgang Gentzsch, director of grid computing, Sun Microsystems. ``This distribution in addition to Sun's own Grid Engine Project, builds on Sun's vision of a truly heterogeneous grid computing environment in which enterprises can maximize resource utilization and gain competitive advantage today.'' ``SuSE Linux is proud to be the first Linux solution provider to bring a powerful grid computing solution to the Linux marketplace. Sun's Grid Engine technology delivers real benefits to SuSE Linux users and to the growing Linux community, and we're proud to work with Sun in extending the widespread adoption of grid computing,'' said Boris Nalbach, CTO, SuSE Linux. ``We've seen the rapid adoption of Sun Grid Engine software and we're convinced it leverages the inherent strengths of SuSE Linux 8.0 Professional to deliver a remarkable level of performance and flexibility in distributed resource environments.'' SUSE Linux 8.0 PROFESSIONAL EDITION FEATURES, PRICING & AVAILABILITY SuSE Linux 8.0, using Kernel 2.4.18, more than 1200 drivers, latest support of graphics cards and glibc 2.2.5 represents state-of-the-art Linux technology. In addition to numerous improvements in the areas of security, ISDN, modem, and mail, the latest central Linux tools include: web server Apache 1.3.23 and file and print server for Windows networks, Samba 2.2.3a. Basic system advantages such as memory protection, preemptive multitasking, optimized memory management, and excellent network properties enhance professional deployment and ambitious home use. SuSE Linux 8.0 will be available directly on April 22, from http://shop.suse.com , as well as from software retailers. The recommended retail price for Linux 8.0 Professional (seven CDs, one DVD, three manuals, 90 days of installation support) is USD $79.95. About the Grid Engine Project The Grid Engine open source project is the home for the growing Grid Engine user and developer community. Grid Engine software is a leading distributed resource management tool for cluster and campus grids. Managing and submitting jobs to available compute resources in an individual grid, Grid Engine technology maximizes CPU utilization, increases productivity and return on investment. Sponsored by Sun Microsystems, the project is at www.gridengine.sunsource.net. Sun Grid Engine is also available as a free download at www.sun.com/grid. Users of Grid Engine technology include Ford, Caprion Pharmaceuticals, BP, Cognigen Corporation, Motorola, Sony Semiconductor and Devices Europe, Aachen University of Technology, University of Durham and University of Edinburgh. For more information visit www.suse.com or www.sun.com.