Re: Questions concerning Alpha clusters running Linux

[Alvin Starr <alvin iplink net>]

On Wed, 2 Sep 1998, Gary A. Allen wrote:

> Folks,
> 
> A bunch of us at the STA Branch of the NASA Ames Research Center are sold on
> the idea of using an array of Alphas running on PCI bus motherboards to do
> scientific computations.  Our ideas are currently embryonic:  We are thinking
> of having several desktop Alphas with Linux and Windows-NT partitions
> (Windows-NT for shrink-wrap software and Linux for doing real scientific work)

You may find that there is sufficient shrink-wrap software availble for 
linux to just stay in the linux domain(Word-processors/Spreadsheets...)


> and also having a large cluster of Alphas dedicated to scientific computations
> using parallel algorithms. The large cluster would run with Linux as the
> operating system and use applications compiled with the best legal compiler
> available for Linux.  Our machines would all be based on the new OEM Samsung
> chips and motherboards.   All of the generic PC stuff (cases, CRTs, keyboards,
> video cards, hard disks, etc.) would be purchased at bottom dollar from local
> vendors.  We would assemble the machines in-house and wire them together using
> high speed Ethernet connections.

I was talking to "Maurice Hilarius <maurice@harddata.com>" at harddata 
and if I remember correctly they were setting up or knew a similar system 
being setup at the University of Western Ontario(I think). He probibly 
can get some systems together for you if you want.

I have never used any systems that he has built but I have had a number 
of conversations with him and he knows what he is talikng about. So you 
could not go wrong by at least talking with him. 

Alvin Starr                   ||   voice: (416)585-9971
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