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C-DAC decides to use Linux software

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, which makes supercomputers used for heavy-duty data processing, said on Monday it had decided to use open source Linux software in a high-performance computing lab.

The Pune-based state agency, whose machines are used for advanced computing functions in activities such as oil exploration and weather forecasting, will use a Linux platform customised by International Business Machines.

Originally developed in Finland and updated by programmers around the world with open access to codes, Linux is pitted against closely guarded codes of Microsoft's Windows operating system.

While Linux is free, technology firms sell and service customised versions for large customers.

Linux-backers believe that India, with its low-cost computer penetration, cost-conscious market and a large pool of software developers, offers a big market for Linux-based systems.

"The selection of Linux public software and its deployment by C-DAC (the centre) will provide a boost to the research activities of the scientific community in India," C-DAC and IBM said in a joint statement.

Founded in 1988, C-DAC is a state-run research and development firm, which has built four versions of its Param series of supercomputer machines. It also earns revenue from selling regional language software and by training high-tech engineers.

C-DAC's new laboratory will start operations in Bangalore later this year, the statement said.

"We are using Linux only for a specific lab and have not yet decided whether to adopt it across all our applications," R K Arora, C-DAC executive director, told Reuters.

As part of the agreement, C-DAC will work with IBM's Indian research laboratory in areas such as Hindi language speech recognition, weather forecasting and grid computing technologies. Grid computing involves using shared capacity from a network of computers to carry out high-performance work.

"Our partnership with C-DAC will open a window of opportunity for information technology implementation within the government and a host of scientific institutions," IBM India's managing director, Abraham Thomas, said in the statement.

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