HPCVL Advances Work in Stem-Cell Research, Economics, Physics and Psychology Using Sun Technology

KINGSTON, ON, May 19, 2005 - Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) is helping the High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory (HPCVL.org) to more rapidly pursue discovery and research projects with the selection of Sun technologies within its world-leading High Performance Computing (HPC) Center. The expansion is expected to quadruple current computing power and storage, and speeding results for researchers working on complex scientific and economic problems.

The new HPCVL systems will be built upon Sun technologies including Solaris 10, Sun Fire E25K SPARC processor-based servers and Sun 6130 StorEdge arrays. The $22M/ CAD purchase will allow the Canadian research organization to enhance a powerful and efficient computing solution that services multiple research groups including the areas of Stem-Cell Research, Economics, Physics and Psychology.

"HPCVL depends upon access to the best compute technology, and we're excited to be working with Sun to integrate current and future SPARC based high-performance systems into our research centers," said Dr. Ken Edgecombe, executive director of HPCVL. "Sun has consistently kept us at the forefront of high performance computing, enabling our world-class researchers to advance their work in fields that impact our society at many levels."

Since 1999 HPCVL and Sun have been building on a unique public/private relationship to enhance the Canadian research which has seen smaller research clusters give way to a single, more powerful and efficient cluster that services multiple research groups.

"The new technology investment will significantly boost HPCVL's capabilities and maintain its status as one of the world's leading HPC centers," noted Dr. Marc Tremblay, Sun Fellow, vice president and chief architect for Sun's Scalable Systems Group at Sun. "In phase two, HPCVL intends to use Sun's future high-end multi-threaded SPARC-based systems that will optimize performance and enable them to stay on the leading-edge."

About HPCVL

HPCVL -- The High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory (HPCVL) was formed by a consortium of four Ontario universities (Carleton University, Queen's University, The Royal Military College of Canada, and the University of Ottawa). In 2004, HPCVL added Ryerson University in Toronto as a member institution. Ryerson is now hosting Sun equipment as part of a workup environment.

HPCVL is dedicated to providing researchers at member institutions and selected researchers from elsewhere in Ontario with the High Performance Computing (HPC) resources they need to conduct innovative research in a broad spectrum of disciplines.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com/ .

NOTE: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo, Sun Fire, Solaris, Sun StorEdge and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.