Sun Microsystems, a leading contributor to the open source community, continues to bring its extensive experience and leadership in 64-bit enterprise computing to the volume server and workstation arena with an enhanced family of AMD Opteron processor-based systems that enable customers to get high performance on leading operating systems of their choice, whether that is Linux, Microsoft Windows or Sun's own Solaris Operating System (OS). Customers including Audi AG, Keyhole, Mentor Graphics Corporation, Biomedical Informatics Research Networks (BIRN), Conoco Phillips, STMicroelectronics, University of Michigan and University of Utah/CADE Lab are already reaping the benefits from the OS-independent, record breaking speed of the Sun Fire servers and Sun Java Workstations. Along with on-going product family expansion, the partner ecosystem around Sun continues to grow. Utility Computing Success with EDS One of the nation's leading Web sites turned to Sun and iForce Partner EDS for a utility computing solution powered by Sun servers equipped with AMD Opteron processors running the Linux operating system. The Sun solution includes the recently announced Sun Fire V40z systems to power Oracle9i application and database services, while Sun Fire V20z systems power the Web servers. "We are impressed by the performance and level of flexibility that Sun's new AMD Opteron processor-based servers allow in the deployment of a variety of operating systems including Linux, Solaris or Windows," said Larry Lozon, Vice President, EDS Hosting Services. "We are working closely with Sun as our global server partner to deliver the benefits of lower TCO, through the use of virtualization technologies and utility computing solutions that lead to greater business agility for our clients." Sun Powers Linux Clusters For Automobile Crash Simulation Audi AG, one of Germany's renowned automobile manufacturers, worked with Sun's Customer Ready Systems to build and deploy a 318 Sun Fire V60x and Sun Fire V65x server cluster running Linux to perform crash simulation testing. The industry standard PAM-CRASH simulation uses industrial software to perform realistic and predictive virtual crash-worthiness simulations for automobiles. The new Sun Linux cluster boasts a higher total processor clock speed than the system it replaced, reaching speeds of up to 2000 gigahertz, and streamlining work for Audi's engineers. Workstations with Sun Java Desktop System Show Clear Benefits Over Competitors Unlike any other AMD Opteron processor-based 64-bit workstation on the market, Sun's Sun Java Workstation W1100z and Sun Java Workstation W2100z are designed to maximize end-user productivity. Sun's workstations are offered with Sun's Java Desktop System, one of the leading Linux desktop solutions with an easy-to-learn selection of productivity tools including StarOffice(tm) productivity suite, Web browser, email/calendar, instant messaging, project management, drawing and video conferencing. Sun's Java Desktop System continues to gain worldwide traction through its landmark agreements with governments and large institutions such as the People's Republic of China (PRC) with the goal to install at least 200 million copies around the country. In addition,the Allied Irish Bank, one of Ireland's largest banking and financial services organizations, is migrating 7,500 desktop users across its entire branch network to the Sun Java Desktop System. Sun's ISV Ecosystem Continues to Grow With nearly 240 partners, Sun's independent software vendor (ISV) ecosystem is gaining momentum through the iForce developer and channel partner communities with its expanded x86 product line and Sun's early access program. Sun systems based on AMD Opteron processors were delivered to iForce development partners to help accelerate the availability and testing of industry-leading software solutions. The growing community of ISV and independent hardware vendor (IHV) supporters and early adopters includes 360Commerce, Adaptec, Inc., Addonics Technologies, Inc., Cadence Design Systems, Inc., Check Point Software Technologies, DeepNines, ECNet Ltd, Emulex Corporation, Gene-IT, Geospiza Inc., INCOGEN, Iomega, IONA(R) Technologies, Legato Software, Mainsoft Corporation, Mentor Graphics Corporation, Metapa, NeuSoft, Omnitron Systems Technology, Inc., Oracle Corporation, PTC, QLogic Corp., Ronglian, SAP, Synopsys, Inc., Tomax Corporation, Trend Micro, UGS, UFSoft, VERITAS,WizVision and Zend Technologies Inc.