What Cray does

Cray, operating as HPE Cray Supercomputing under Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), is a high-performance computing (HPC) brand and product line specializing in exascale-class supercomputing systems. Originally founded by Seymour Cray in 1972, the company underwent multiple ownership changes before being acquired by HPE in 2019 for approximately $1.3 billion. Cray's systems support scientific research, AI/ML training, and advanced computational workloads for research institutions, government agencies, and large enterprises. The brand maintains a legacy reputation in supercomputing innovation while being integrated into HPE's broader portfolio spanning compute (HPE ProLiant), storage (HPE Alletra), networking (Aruba/Juniper), and the GreenLake hybrid cloud platform.

The technical architecture centers on purpose-built HPC systems designed for AI training and inference workloads, integrated with HPE's AI-native networking stack. AI capabilities include Marvis AI for conversational network operations, Mist AI for self-driving networks, HPE Aruba Networking Central for unified cloud-native management, and Juniper Apstra for data center fabric automation. AI modalities span agentic AI (autonomous network agents performing self-driving actions), anomaly detection on network telemetry, process automation through intent-based networking, and generative AI workloads delivered via the NVIDIA AI Computing by HPE collaboration. The platform is delivered through GreenLake, which provides consumption-based pricing and unified management across compute, storage, and networking resources.

Cray's go-to-market operates entirely through HPE's enterprise channels: direct enterprise field sales for complex infrastructure deployments, a global Partner Connect reseller network, dedicated e-commerce storefronts (HPE Store, HPE Select Store, HPE Public Sector Store), and HPE Financial Services for IT lifecycle financing. Revenue is generated across four streams: hardware sales (servers, storage, networking, supercomputing), software and subscription services (GreenLake, Aruba Central, Morpheus), professional services and support, and usage-based consumption through GreenLake. Customers span enterprise organizations (Siemens Energy, Vultr, Norfolk Southern, Nippon Gases), government/public sector (RDUH NHS Foundation Trust), sports and entertainment (Inter Miami CF, Everton Football Club), and cloud providers (Vultr).

Name

Cray

Legal name

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company

Website

https://hpe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

HPE Cray Supercomputing provides exascale-class high-performance computing systems for AI training, scientific research, and enterprise workloads, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary and brand of Hewlett Packard Enterprise since the 2019 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Performance Computing (Supercomputing)

NAICS

Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Electronic Computers (3571), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Computer & Office Equipment (3570)

akta.pro primary industry

HPC Supercomputers & Turnkey Systems (HDACAOAA)

Keywords

• Exascale supercomputing systems
• High-performance computing
• AI infrastructure hardware
• HPC cluster servers
• Scientific research computing

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of enterprise infrastructure including servers, storage, networking equipment, and supercomputing systems. Products sold directly and through channel partners.
2. Software and Subscription Services: Software solutions including management platforms (GreenLake, Aruba Central, Morpheus Software), AI operations tools, and security software offered on subscription basis.
3. Services and Support: Comprehensive services including advisory and professional services, managed services, education services, support services, and financial services for IT lifecycle management.
4. GreenLake as-a-Service: Consumption-based model through HPE GreenLake platform offering pay-per-use pricing for compute, storage, and networking resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cray designs, manufactures, and delivers exascale-class high-performance supercomputing systems under the HPE Cray Supercomputing brand for scientific research, AI training and inference, national laboratory workloads, and enterprise AI factories. These HPC systems are sold alongside compute, storage, AI-native networking, and the GreenLake hybrid cloud platform to provide full-stack infrastructure for the most demanding computational workloads.

Product overview

Cray, now operating as HPE Cray Supercomputing under Hewlett Packard Enterprise, offers high-performance computing systems and enterprise technology infrastructure. The portfolio includes HPE Cray Supercomputing for exascale-class computing, HPE ProLiant Compute servers, HPE Alletra Storage solutions, and HPE Aruba/Juniper Networking products. These products are complemented by the GreenLake cloud platform which provides unified hybrid cloud management, enabling enterprises to manage compute, storage, and networking from edge to cloud. AI capabilities are delivered through Marvis AI, Mist AI, and agentic AI solutions integrated across the networking and compute portfolio. The company positions itself around AI-native networking, self-driving networks, and turnkey AI factory solutions for enterprise transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HPE Cray Supercomputing: High-performance supercomputing products and solutions for exascale computing, AI, and enterprise workloads.

Products and services

• HPE Cray Supercomputing Exascale-class high-performance supercomputing systems designed for the world's most demanding scientific simulation, AI training and inference, national-laboratory research, and enterprise AI factory workloads; sold to national labs, research universities, governments, and large enterprises via HPE's direct and partner channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fifth consecutive leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Juniper NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025HPE acquired Juniper Networks in 2025, integrating their networking portfolio including EX Series Switches, PTX Series Routers, SRX Series Firewalls, and Mist AI technology into the HPE Juniper Networking brand. The acquisition strengthens HPE's AI-native networking capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Direct peers

• IBM: IBM offers the POWER-based HPC systems (including the Spectrum LSF stack) and competes directly with Cray in national-lab, research, and enterprise supercomputing; both target exascale and AI training workloads with tightly integrated hardware/software stacks.
• Fujitsu: Fujitsu developed the Fugaku supercomputer (TOP500 #1) and supplies PRIMEHPC FX systems; competes with Cray at the high-end of exascale and national-lab supercomputing globally.
• Lenovo: Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and Neptune liquid-cooling platforms are widely deployed in the TOP500 supercomputer list, making Lenovo a direct competitor to Cray in HPC clusters and AI infrastructure.
• Atos (Eviden): Eviden (Atos's HPC division) supplies BullSequana supercomputers and is a direct Cray competitor in European national-lab and enterprise HPC procurements.
• Dell Technologies: Dell's PowerEdge servers and Dell HPC Factory (formerly EMC) compete directly with Cray in scale-out HPC clusters, AI training racks, and enterprise data center compute, particularly for GPU-accelerated workloads.
• NEC: NEC builds the SX-Aurora TSUBASA vector supercomputers and supplies HPC systems to research institutions in Japan and Europe; competes with Cray in the vector/scientific HPC niche.

Emerging players

• NVIDIA: NVIDIA's DGX SuperPOD and HGX reference architectures are increasingly bought directly by AI customers, encroaching on traditional Cray/HPC system integrator territory for AI training workloads.
• Penguin Solutions (formerly Penguin Computing): Penguin Solutions designs and integrates custom HPC and AI clusters, including OriginAI appliances; competes with Cray in mid-market HPC and AI factory deployments.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS offers HPC and AI instances (P5, Trn1, EC2 UltraClusters) on consumption pricing; competes with Cray for AI training and traditional HPC workloads via cloud-based alternatives to on-premises supercomputers.

Broad incumbents

• Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE parent context): As Cray's parent, HPE provides the broader ProLiant server, Alletra storage, Aruba networking, and GreenLake platform context; comparable peers in the broader enterprise infrastructure market include HPE's own portfolio expansion that competes with pure-play HPC vendors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cray-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cray