Sun Microsystems partners with AMD to provide native support for Java technology on 64-bit AMD Opteron processor for Linux and Windows: high performance computing customers to benefit from the availability of 64-bit Java-based applications on AMD Opteron-compatible platforms.

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) has announced it has teamed with AMD to provide native Java(TM) technology support for the 64-bit AMD Opteron(TM) processor. By supporting the 64-bit Linux and Windows platforms on the AMD Opteron processor, Sun is allowing companies to migrate their current Java applications from a 32-bit to 64-bit computing platform with little or no changes to the code, as well as enabling the development and deployment of new Java applications and Web services. Sun expects to make the 64-bit Linux and Windows ports to AMD Opteron available with the release of the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE(TM)) v 1.5 in summer of 2004. Blackdown, a J2SE licensee, also contributed technology to the development of these ports.

"By partnering with AMD to create a 64-bit J2SE software port for AMD Opteron, Sun is able to extend Java's reach to a larger market and provide a reliable and highly performant platform for Java application and Web services deployment," said Joe Keller, vice president of marketing for Java Web Services at Sun Microsystems. "We're committed to ensuring that customers have the greatest flexibility and can reap the maximum value from their current Java technology-based applications when transitioning to 64-bit computing."

The AMD Opteron processor for servers and workstations is based on AMD64, which extends the x86 instruction set architecture (ISA) to 64-bit computing for the first time. AMD64 allows for the development of a unified 64-bit computing infrastructure fully compatible with the pervasive x86 architecture. This technology is designed to preserve customers' investments in 32-bit applications, while allowing a seamless transition to 64-bit computing. With the introduction of a J2SE technology port to AMD Opteron for 64-bit computing, companies running Java applications on 32-bit processors will experience little to no changes in their applications when they upgrade to a 64-bit Opteron processor-based platform. In addition, the Sun ONE Studio developer tools already run on Red Hat Linux and Solaris x86 and support full J2SE and J2EE development.

"AMD is working with Sun to develop a platform that extends the reach and seamless migration of critical Java technology-based business applications for the high performance computing market," said Marty Seyer, vice president and general manager of AMD's Microprocessor Business Unit. "Working directly with Sun on the J2SE technology port to AMD Opteron for 64-bit computing, our shared customers can be assured they'll receive the best possible implementation of Java technology on the scalable, high-performance AMD Opteron platform."