Cluster Computing:

TEXAS A&M SELECTS APPRO HYPERBLADE AMD OPTERON CLUSTER

InfiniCon Systems, a premier provider of shared I/O and switching solutions for next-generation server networks, and Appro, a leading developer of high- density, high-performance servers, announced that Texas A&M University is implementing a High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster integrating InfiniCon's InfinIO Architecture ­ featuring 10 Gbps InfiniBand technology ­ with Appro's s HyperBlade AMD Opteron Cluster Solution.

Texas A&M University has purchased two Appro HyperBlade Clusters consisting of 130-nodes with a total of 260 AMD Opteron processors. The HPC Solution includes Appro BladeDome Remote Management Software and InfiniCon's InfinIO 7000 Shared I/O and Clustering System. HPC configurations based on Appro and InfiniCon technology are easy to scale; servers can be added with plug-and- play ease to build a clustering fabric that can support thousands of nodes.

"Two powerful, emerging technologies ­ standards-based 64-bit processing and 10 Gbps InfiniBand switching ­ are being combined to create an improved paradigm for the HPC market," stated Jamie Gruener, Senior Analyst, The Yankee Group. "Today's end-user can scale computational power without the penalty of excessive cost or the limitation of proprietary components."

The HPC cluster solution will support multiple research activities at the university such as hydrology, groundwater and oil and gas reservoir simulations. Texas A&M's projects were funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

"Texas A&M's decision to take advantage of the Appro HyperBlade AMD Opteron processor-based cluster with InfiniBand interconnect technology should prove to be an excellent choice in supporting and furthering its critical engineering research," said Marty Seyer, vice president and general manager of the Microprocessor Business Unit at AMD. "The AMD Opteron processor is a great solution for research institutions, providing compatible, high-performing 64- bit processing and offering a unified, x86-based IT architecture that helps reduce the complexity and cost of developing, managing, and maintaining high- performance computing systems."

"We are excited to provide Texas A&M with our leading-edge Appro HyperBlade High-Performance Computing Cluster Solution. This represents the future of commodity clusters: affordable, scalable, manageable and packaged in a blade form factor," said Daniel Kim, president and CEO of Appro. "Our strategic relationship with InfiniCon enables Appro to offer a totally managed HPC solution that can incorporate any of our full range of high-performance server platforms and technologies, including the new 64-bit processing platforms. Customers can build very cost-effective, high-bandwidth clusters today on an infrastructure that is flexible and easy to scale."