MPL works with the world's fastest and most advanced solver optimization engines, such as CPLEX and XPRESS and many other industrial strength solvers. MPL is designed to have an open architecture and is not restricted to only one solver. This enables the model developer to choose the solver that best suits his specific project needs. A unique feature of MPL is that it links to solvers directly through memory. As no files are involved, this seamless connection is considerably faster and more robust than the traditional use of files in other modeling systems. In the event it is necessary to change any of the algorithmic options for the solver, MPL provides easy-to-use option dialog boxes. MPL has extensive solver support and offer advanced features such as:
MPL can work with most commercial solvers available on the market today, including the following solvers:
| Solver | Supported Algorithms |
|---|---|
| CPLEX | LP, MIP, BAR, MIQP |
| XPRESS | LP, MIP, BAR, MIQP |
| OSL | LP, MIP, BAR, MIQP |
| Lindo | LP, MIP, BAR, NLP, MIQP, MINLP |
| MOPS | LP, MIP, BAR |
| FortMP | LP, MIP, BAR, MIQP |
| XA | LP, MIP |
| OML | LP, MIP |
| CoinMP | LP, MIP |
| GLPK | LP, MIP, BAR |
| LPSolve | LP, MIP |
| CONOPT | LP, NLP |
| LSGRG2 | LP, NLP |
| KNITRO | LP, NLP |
| Path | Complementarity |
| LGO | NLP, Global |
CPLEX is one of the most advanced and popular optimization solvers on the market today. It offers a complete solution that contains almost every feature that the model developer would need in an optimization solver.
XPRESS, from Dash Associates, is a world-renowned solver, which strength lies in its ability to solve very large optimization problems especially mixed integer. OSL from IBM is also a very strong optimizer that has the ability to solve many different types of models, including, for example, quadratic mixed integer problems.
There are numerous other solvers on the market today that offer different features that are sometimes not supported by the market leaders; FortMP for example from OptiRisk Systems offers quadratic MIP and stochastic programming. Sunset Software Technologies offers a reasonably priced, relatively fast solver, XA. Another middle range solver is OML from Ketron Management.
Lindo Systems product, Lindo, is popular with academic users. FrontLine is from FrontLine Systems, the same company that provides solvers for Microsoft Excel. LPSolve is a free solver with support for mixed integer programming that is downloadable from the web. Argonne National Laboratories' solver PCx is also downloadable from the web and has a very good implementation of Newton Barrier.
MPL currently supports two nonlinear solvers: CONOPT, a large-scale solver from ARKI Consulting in Denmark that is highly specialized in solving difficult nonlinear models; and the LSGRG2 solver made by Leon Lasdon at Optimal Methods that is used, for example, by Excel.
Maximal Software can provide consultation and assistance on choosing different technologies such as databases and solvers, and on the impact the choices made will have on the success of the project.
To license any of the above listed solvers for MPL, please contact Maximal Software:
Maximal Software, Inc.
2111 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22201
Tel: (703) 522-7900
Fax: (703) 522-7902
Email: info@maximalsoftware.com