CIQ Teams Up with NVIDIA to Enhance AI and HPC Capabilities Using CUDA

CIQ's Strategic Collaboration with NVIDIA: A Leap Forward for AI and HPC Workloads

In a significant advancement for AI and high-performance computing (HPC), CIQ, a prominent name in the software infrastructure arena and the original support partner for Rocky Linux, has officially announced its collaboration with NVIDIA to incorporate the NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit into its commercial services. This groundbreaking partnership marks a pivotal moment for enterprises looking to harness the full potential of GPU acceleration, streamlining the deployment process for various performance computing activities, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The Power of NVIDIA CUDA

NVIDIA's CUDA platform represents a major milestone in accelerated computing, facilitating crucial breakthroughs in AI and scientific research. The CUDA Toolkit is equipped with optimized libraries and developer tools designed specifically for creating and managing workloads accelerated by NVIDIA's powerful GPUs. CIQ's integration promises to offer enterprises a hassle-free, ready-to-use environment that significantly minimizes complications, risks, and time associated with implementing GPU computing solutions.

Gregory Kurtzer, Founder and CEO of CIQ, emphasized the transformative nature of this partnership, stating, "By incorporating native NVIDIA CUDA support into Rocky Linux, we eliminate deployment risks and dramatically cut time-to-production from weeks to mere minutes." This integration not only accelerates the deployment process but also enhances the operational reliability of GPU performance across various platforms, transitioning seamlessly from labs to data centers and into cloud ecosystems.

Rocky Linux: A Growing Powerhouse

As an emerging leader in the Enterprise Linux market, Rocky Linux has garnered considerable traction since its inception just three years ago in 2021. Current metrics show that it commands over 40% of total downloads from the Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) Special Interest Group, proving its robust acceptance in enterprise environments. This widespread adoption, further supported by NVIDIA's commitment to comprehensive testing, solidifies Rocky Linux as a go-to choice for users seeking GPU-accelerated computing.

A Solution to Deployments Challenges

The partnership between CIQ and NVIDIA addresses a number of critical challenges associated with deploying GPU solutions. With an already tested, validated, and optimized stack readily available, enterprises no longer have to deal with cumbersome manual setups or intricate custom integrations that typically lead to operational delays and configuration errors. Now, organizations can effectively unleash the capabilities of NVIDIA acceleration, whether they’re engaged in training intricate language models, managing inference systems, or conducting detailed scientific simulations.

This innovative platform promises to eliminate many of the technical barriers and delays that have historically hindered GPU software deployment. CIQ's Rocky Linux with CUDA ensures a smooth transition from development to production, reducing the time it takes to deploy solutions from weeks to just minutes. This not only streamlines operations but also decreases the risk of misconfiguration during the deployment phase, allowing teams to focus on innovation rather than navigation through technical challenges.

Empowering Users for Optimal Performance

Bjorn Hovland, COO of CIQ, conveyed his enthusiasm for the partnership by stating, "By delivering GPU-ready infrastructure with Rocky Linux, we’re eliminating deployment complexity and helping customers extract maximum machine performance and efficiency from day one." The industry’s response to this collaboration has been overwhelmingly positive, with key software firms acknowledging the simplified deployment process and enhanced performance guarantee that comes with the CIQ and NVIDIA integration. Wim Slagter, Senior Director of Partner Programs at Ansys, expressed this sentiment, remarking, "We view this collaboration as a key enabler for our joint users and welcome continued alignment with CIQ and NVIDIA to deliver a seamless, high-performance experience."

As part of this strategic alliance, CIQ will offer pre-built Rocky Linux images that include CUDA through its registries and various cloud marketplaces. These pre-configured environments ensure consistency and compliance, assisting in the quick and efficient deployment of GPU-enhanced solutions across numerous sectors where performance and regulatory standards are paramount.

About CIQ

Founded in 2020 by open-source pioneer Gregory Kurtzer, CIQ is on a mission to create a secure and efficient software stack tailored for the AI era. With its roots firmly planted in community-led principles, CIQ acts as the cornerstone for Rocky Linux and provides a suite of innovative products such as Fuzzball, Ascender, and various enterprise solutions. Their focus is on simplifying high-performance computing, empowering organizations in their evolution towards a data-centered future.

For further information, visit CIQ's website.