SGI And SUSE Linux Combine Efforts To Empower Linux With High-Availability Functionality

August 15, 2000


Functionality sets New Standard in Open Source Community

LinuxWorld Expo, San Jose, CA

SGI (NYSE: SGI), known worldwide for providing a broad range of high-performance computing and advanced graphics solutions, and SUSE Linux, the international technology leader and solution provider in open source operating system (OS) software, today announced the delivery of Linux FailSafe™. Linux FailSafe is a scalable and modular high-availability solution based on IRIS FailSafe™, proven clustering software from SGI. Linux FailSafe brings advanced clustering capabilities to Linux and signifies an important step in the maturation of Linux® into a platform of choice for enterprise-class, high-availability applications.

Through cooperative engineering efforts, SGI and SUSE have brought the proven functionality of IRIS FailSafe to the Linux® environment, enabling users to link two or more servers together and create a reliable failover environment with a highly scalable and flexible configuration. A Linux FailSafe cluster enables resiliency from any single point of failure and increases application availability to the level required for mission-critical data center operations as well as 24x7 business environments. This failover capability plays a significant role in the maturation of Linux as an enterprise computing environment, especially for organizations that require dependable, full-time access to their computer systems and applications.

"High availability is essential to companies that use Linux in production environments, and Linux FailSafe provides the kind of reliable access that can prevent expensive downtimes," said Jan Silverman, vice president, Advanced Systems Marketing, SGI. "Linux FailSafe maximizes the availability of mission-critical applications by ensuring protection from unplanned as well as planned outages."

"The precision and technical superiority of SUSE Linux provides the stability and reliability that are crucial to the continuing deployment of Linux throughout the enterprise. Our contributions to projects such as Linux FailSafe and our collaboration with SGI broaden the availability of open source solutions to more and more enterprise computing environments," said Volker Wiegand, president of SUSE Inc.

The joint effort between SGI and SUSE allows the two companies to contribute their combined expertise to the Open Source community. Following this announcement, both SGI and SUSE are actively encouraging members of the Open Source community to participate in the continuing enhancement of Linux FailSafe as well as to test and integrate their code in the new high-availability environment. To participate in this project, please visit http://oss.sgi.com/projects/failsafe.

About SGI:
Known as a strong advocate for open technology, SGI is committed to contributing technology from its core competencies in visualization and high-performance computing to the open source community. SGI provides a broad range of high-performance computing and advanced graphics solutions that enable customers to understand and conquer their toughest computing problems. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with offices worldwide, the company is located on the Web at www.sgi.com.

Silicon Graphics and IRIS are registered trademarks and SGI, the SGI logo, Linux FailSafe and IRIS FailSafe are trademarks, of Silicon Graphics, Inc. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell® Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise™), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian and SUSE Linux brands, Novell is firmly committed to open source and offers comprehensive Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell is a registered trademarks; Nsure, exteNd and Nteprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. * All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.