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There has been a lot of talk this past week about Sun making the Java source code available as open source. We have a news story on it [17271] with some references to more details such as why GPL. Gosling weighs in on the news [17261]. A new OpenJDK web site community has been formed also [17282].
HPC is making waves also. Utility grid computing from Sun is being adopted at universities ([17279]) and by ISVs ([17278]). NEC will sell Sun HPC solutions [17281].
Another Sun luminary to make news this week is Andy Bechtolsheim, considered one of the most influential executives of 2006 [17283]. Tune in to the video of Papadopoulos and Schwartz talking about the commoditization of computing [17274].
In server news, the Netra T2000 server is now available in the AC version [17262]. Sun Cluster 3.1 support is available for additional Sun Fire servers [17266].
If like many programmers and sys admins, you are searching for more stuff to do on your computer after waking up from the holiday turkey dinner induced nap, look into the discounted training made especially for the holiday break [17286].
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News
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Java Platform Source Code Now Released Under GPL License as Open Source
Aiming to Inspire a New Phase of Developer Collaboration and Innovation
On November 13, 2006, Sun released its implementations of Java technology as free software under the GNU General Public License version two (GPLv2). Sun has released the code for the Java Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE platform, now called the Java SE), and for the Java Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME, now called the Java ME).
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New HPC Offerings from Sun: Sun Blade 8000 P Modular System, Sun HPC Quick Start Services
New modules from the Sun N1 Grid Engine Now Part of Grid Engine Open Source Project
Sun is offering new service packages and high performance computing (HPC) technologies such as the Sun Blade 8000 P modular system, which is specifically designed for high-end x64 cluster and grid computing. Other new offerings include Sun HPC Quick Start, Sun Visualization System for HPC, three new modules for the Grid Engine open source project and more.
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ISVs Apply Sun Grid Compute Utility to Applications for Customers in Biotech and Predictive Analytics
Sun Grid Readiness Initiative Gives ISVs Power of the Grid for Increased Revenue
At the recent Supercomputing conference in Tampa, FL, over 15 ISVs announced that they will use the on-demand model provided by the Sun Grid Compute Utility so they can offer their own software as a service to their customers. Two of the ISVs at the conference who discussed how they are hosting applications on the Sun Grid Compute Utility are SPSS Inc. and SimBioSys Inc.
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Sun Microsystems India Expands Outside Metro Areas to New Cities
Working with Partners to Reach More Customers
Sun Microsystems India has recognized 18 Tier III cities to expand into as part of a strategic effort to grow across the country. Sun India wishes to be in closer proximity to customers outside of Tier I and II metro areas.
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NEC Adds Sun Fire Servers to its Sales Line-up and its Benchmarking Center
Making HPC Power Available Beyond Tokyo Tech Supercomputer
In an expanded relationship between Sun and NEC, NEC will sell Sun Fire servers as part of their global HPC solutions offerings. NEC will also connect its benchmarking center at the NEC Advanced Technical Computing Center (ATCC) with the Sun Solution Center for HPC so as to offer customers and ISVs application tuning, benchmarking and staging.
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Features
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Gridathon Interactive Chat Set for December
Sign up for a Reminder
In December 2006, Sun will host an online interactive chat with Sun Grid engineers and architects. You can ask about porting, architecting and deploying applications to a grid environment. Sign up online to get a reminder via email.
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Commoditization of Computing VS. the Commoditization of Computers
Papadopoulos and Schwartz Talk to Hal Stern
In a video interview of CTO Greg Papadopoulos and CEO Jonathan Schwartz talking with Hal Stern, Vice President of Global Systems Engineering at Sun (Wednesday Nov 08, 2006), topics discussed include how companies in commodity-based businesses successfully use R&D to differentiate their performance and win new business.
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Andy Bechtolsheim - One of Most Influential Executives of 2006
CRN Report Credits Senior VP with Reinvigorating Sun
Andy Bechtolsheim, Senior Vice President and Chief Architect, Sun, has made CRN's list of the top 25 most influential executives of 2006. CRN states that Bechtolsheim is "getting credit for helping breathe new life into" Sun. And Mark Teter, CTO of Advanced Systems Group, said, Bechtolsheim is "responsible for Sun becoming the best vendor in the x86 space."
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Workstation
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Sun Ultra 25, Ultra 45 Workstation Configurations With XVR-300
Aimed at Petroleum Government, Manufacturing Applications
The new RoHS-compliant Sun Ultra 25 and Sun Ultra 45 workstation configurations feature the Sun XVR-300 PCI-Express based 2D graphics accelerator card. These workstations are optimal solutions for the oil and gas industry, which requires high-end graphics in such compute intensive applications as seismic data visualization and interpretation, terrain visualization and reservoir engineering.
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Price Decrease of the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5500 Graphics Accelerator
Card Delivers 33.6 GB/sec Bandwidth
Sun has repriced the high-end NVIDIA Quadro FX 5500 Graphics Accelerator card. Readers will find details in a comparison chart online that contains information on the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5500, FX 4500 X2, FX 4500 and FX 4000.
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Sun Ultra 45 Workstation Administration and Troubleshooting and Assessment Course
Designed for OEMs, Field Engineers, Channel Partners
Sun is offering a course on Sun Ultra 45 Workstation Administration and Troubleshooting and Assessment (WET-5053) that covers the key features and technologies of the Sun Ultra 45 workstation. Details are available online.
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Servers
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Sun Releases AC version of the Netra T2000 Server
Ideal Solution for Deployment in Severe Environmental Conditions
The Sun Netra T2000 Server offers the UltraSPARC T1 processor in a ruggedized 2U RoHS-compliant package aimed at the telecom industry and providing additional alarming and OEM lifecycle features that make it ideal for deployment in less than ideal settings.
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Sun Introduces System Packs for Many Sun Fire, Sun Blade Servers
Offering Combines Products, Services in Single, Economical Package
There are now Sun System Performance Packs available for the Sun Fire V125, V215, V245, V445, V490, V890, X4500 and S4600 servers and the Sun Blade 8000 and 8000P. Sun System Performance Packs attach services to Sun product by combining Sun products, such as the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS), and services, such as SunSpectrum support services, as one offering.
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Sun Cluster 3.1 Software Support Extended to Additional Sun Fire Servers
Support for Java Availability Suite Also Extended
Sun Cluster 3.1 Software support and the Java Availability Suite are now available for the Sun Fire V215, Sun Fire V245 and Sun Fire V445 servers.
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Top10
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Top Ten Articles for last Issue; top 100 for Volume 104
Vol 104 Issues 3 and 4; Vol 105 Issues 1 and 2
Each week, we determine which articles have been most frequently referenced by logged-in subscribers to provide you with a list of the most popular articles for each of the last four issues. The Web version of this article lists the top 10 articles for each of the last four issues. The top articles from the last issue - Vol 105, Issue 2 - were:
- Enter the Java EE SDK Contest for a Chance to Win an iPod Nano [17238]
- How ZFS Makes the Sys Admin's Life Easier [17127]
- Executive White Paper: Transistioning from Lintel to Sun [17249]
- Two Ubuntu News Briefs: Ubuntu Receives Certification on Sun Servers and GlassFish Now Available on Ubuntu [17251]
- SAMP Setup for Solaris 10 OS and Solaris Express [17246]
- DTrace: When, How and Where to Make Best Use of the Tool [17191]
- New IT Management Web Site Offers Resources to Build and Operate Large Compute Environments [17254]
- A Java-powered Underwater Vehicle Built by Students Earns Recognition [17253]
- New Sun Startup Essentials Program Offers Sun Technology for Less [17257]
- Wind River NEP Platform to Support UltraSPARC T1 Processor [17250]
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Free and Open Source S/W
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The New Open-source JDK Project Web Site and Community
Get the Code for the HotSpot Virtual Machine and javac
With the move to make its implementation of the Java platform available as free software, Sun is also making a new open source community for OpenJDK where you can download the code for the Java Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE now called Java SE) specification as defined in the Java Community Process (JCP).
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Java DB 10.2 Available for Apache Derby
No Cost (or Low Cost), Little Administration Needed for this Distribution
Java DB 10.2, a 100% Java technology platform-independent database, is the Sun-support distribution of the Apache Derby open source database. Java DB is available for free under the Apache license and requires no administration if embedded and little if used in client-server mode.
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New Cool Stack Packages for x86
Improve Performance of Solaris Operating System
Cool Stack is a collection of some of the most commonly used open source applications optimized for the Sun Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) platform. Using these binaries can enhance system performance. Cool Stack is built with the Sun Studio 11 Compiler, using the -xO4 option for high levels of optimization. See the new packages recently added.
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Education and Research
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Largest Solaris 10 OS based HPC System Installed at Mississippi State University
Enabling Research in Structural Mechanics
Mississippi State University (MSU) High Performance Computing Collaboratory now has the largest Solaris 10 OS high performance computing (HPC) cluster that Sun has built.
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Sun Education Matching Grant Program for EMEA
Apply Before December 20, 2006
The EMEA Education and Research Matching Grant program is offering 1 to 1 and 2 to 1 matches for purchases of Sun equipment for classroom, student or research lab configurations, and for student, faculty or research desktops. Apply by December 20, 2006, to be considered.
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Education Software Discount List
Serious Software made Simple and Affordable for Education
To qualify to purchase Sun software at a deep discount, all you need is a Sun Education buying contract (EdVEU). There are no additional requirements such as program participation or completion of a program agreement. Software purchased from the list can be used for any computing purpose on campus (in the U.S.). Prices listed here are for licenses or media kits only and do not include technical support. Technical support may be purchased separately through the Sun Spectrum Support Program for Education.
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Java Technology
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JDK 6 Release Candidate Available
Get Useful Tools to Develop Java Technology Programs
Java Platform, Standard Edition 6 (Java SE 6) Java Development Kit (JDK) 6 Release Candidate is available for download. The JDK includes tools useful for developing and testing programs written in the Java programming language and running on the Java platform.
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Gosling Talks About Making Java Open Source
Hopes for Future Innovation and Developer Contributions
James Gosling talked with Robert Eckstein about making Java technology open source. They discuss why it took as long as it did, how fragmentation of the code can be prevented, and more.
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JSR 272 and JSR 247 Open for Public Review Until December 4, 2006
JSR 272: Mobile Broadcast Service API for Handheld Terminals, and JSR 247: Data Mining 2.0
Specifications for the following Java Specification Requests (JSRs) are now available for Public Review until December 4, 2006: JSR 272, Mobile Broadcast Service API for Handheld Terminals, and JSR 247, Data Mining 2.0.
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SimpleCenter Digital Music and Image Organizer from Java.com
Rate Images and Video Files, Add Custom Tags and More
SimpleCenter enhances the enjoyment of digital entertainment devices by making it easy to organize, play and share music, pictures and movies at home or on the go. You can enjoy your media anywhere by synchronizing it to portable devices or accessing it directly via a web browser no matter where you are.
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