Rackspace and The University of Texas at San Antonio Build Advanced OpenStack-based Software Platfor

Rackspace and The University of Texas at San Antonio Build Advanced OpenStack-based Software Platform for Academic Research

Initiative enables powerful computational research and new discovery

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rackspace Hosting (NYS: RAX) , the open cloud company, and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have designed, built and deployed an advanced academic research software platform based upon OpenStack technologies. This new computational power resource has been designed to revolutionize the way scientists and scholars use technology to accelerate their research efforts.

Academic and scientific research typically involves the construction of mathematical and numerical models to solve scientific and engineering problems. Traditionally, these complicated and intensive computational models have been implemented on complex super computers or a high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure with high maintenance demands. With cloud computing, researchers are freed from managing IT equipment and can put greater focus on their research initiatives.

"We are pleased to have worked with UTSA to build them a hybrid cloud platform featuring Rackspace Private Cloud and public Open Cloud solutions to help them advance their efforts around research and academics. This solution will enable UTSA to run scientific computations and big-data such as bioinformatics, aircraft digital twins, energy exploration research, and digital human model & real-time surgical control on an open cloud solution," said Paul Rad, VP, Private Cloud Technology Alliance Program at Rackspace.

"To support the type of collaboration and initiatives expected from a premier research institution, UTSA decided early-on that the cloud was going to have to be open," said Jeff Prevost, coordinator of UTSA cloud initiatives. "An OpenStack based foundation became the obvious choice for us, not only because of our relationship with Rackspace, but also because of the private and public structure possibilities. The flexibility of this hybrid environment is a compelling enabler for the research we are doing."

Rackspace is also providing a significant amount of training and development to UTSA, helping to drive adoption and effective use of the OpenStack powered private cloud. The ability for researchers and students to leverage this new platform allows for massive scale, flexibility and speed in research.

The hardware for this new scientific endeavor was provided by a grant through Rackspace co-founder and Chairman Graham Weston's 80/20 Foundation, which provides grants to public charities centered on turning San Antonio into the next entrepreneurial hub, promoting technology skills for the jobs of tomorrow and giving San Antonio more urban options.

"The demands made by applications and the needs of computer users are constantly spiraling upward," said Dr. Mo Jamshidi, chair, UTSA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "We were challenged by the physical limitations of our computers and wanted to find a new computing plateau where we could have the freedom to explore the full potential of our research. Rackspace's Hybrid Cloud has given us real computing freedom and made the technology itself even more useful."

About Rackspace

Rackspace® Hosting (NYS: RAX) is the open cloud company, delivering open technologies and powering more than 205,000 customers worldwide. Rackspace provides its renowned Fanatical Support® across a broad portfolio of IT products, including Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Hosting and Dedicated Hosting. Rackspace has been recognized by Bloomberg BusinessWeek as a Top 100 Performing Technology Company, is featured on Fortune's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For and is included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Rackspace is headquartered in San Antonio with offices and data centers around the world. For more information, visit www.rackspace.com.

Forward-looking statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Rackspace could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements concerning expected development, performance or operational results related to any particular customer associated with our hosting solutions or other products and services; any other statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include issues relating to the performance of a customer's configuration caused by forces within or outside of the control of Rackspace; changes in the economy, technological and competitive factors, regulatory factors, and other risks that are described in Rackspace Hosting's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2013. Except as required by law, Rackspace Hosting assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Rackspace Hosting
Brandon Brunson, 512-680-4385
brandon.brunson@rackspace.com

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