This book is centered on Itanium architecture, the new 64-bit Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) design by Hewlett-Packard and Intel in partnership. Itanium processors reflect a thoroughly new design. They support 64-bit open-source as well as proprietary operating systems and have been selected to replace existing RISC-based server and workstation lines by many of the industry's major system builders. The authors discuss the general principles of computer architecture with working examples. Also included are references, both print and electronic, to guide readers in finding related material. Along with the technical coverage are suggestions about the motivation and rationale for the Itanium architecture, as well as critique and demonstrate how to use its instruction set. Lastly, the book has sample Itanium programs that work with HP-UX assemblers, with GNU and Intel assemblers for Linux, and with the free Ski simulator from HP.