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LINUX NETWORX LANL WIN: HPCwire INTERVIEW
by Alan Beck, Editor-in-Chief

HPCwire conducted a Q&A interview with Linux Networx about some of their recent announcements, company wins and future goals.

HPCwire: Linux Networx has had some pretty exciting announcements lately with the new ASCI supercomputer at Los Alamos National Laboratory and other major wins. How does this impact the future of Linux Networx?

LN: Linux Networx has made significant strides in the supercomputing industry that have demonstrated the company's innovation in cluster computing. For example, the ASCI supercomputer Linux Networx is building for Los Alamos National Laboratory will be the largest Opteron system delivered this year. Another cluster Linux Networx is delivering to Los Alamos will be the largest InfiniBand cluster ever. Linux Networx is constantly pushing the limits of clustering technology to further the technology and ensure our customers' success.

HPCwire: What are some measures Linux Networx is taking to help further cluster adoption?

LN: Linux Networx recently announced the opening of the "Solutions Center" a state- of-the-art facility located at Linux Networx headquarters. The Solutions Center allows Linux Networx customers and partners to explore the latest cluster technology, experiment with clustering configurations, and evaluate application and hardware optimization options. The Solutions Center is equipped with a 72-node Intel Xeon cluster and a 17-node Intel Itanium cluster. Each node has Myrinet, InfiniBand and GigE interconnect options. With the Solutions Center in place, organizations investigating Linux clusters can visit the facility and test and explore different configurations for their specific needs, lowering the barriers of entry to adopting cluster technology.

HPCwire: I also understand Linux Networx is starting a cluster training program. Why did you decide to do this?

LN: The new training programs from Linux Networx provide a forum for organizations to learn the basics of cluster technology, get hands-on experience, and determine if this would be a viable solution for them. Linux Networx recognized a huge need for this type of training in the HPC community and hopes to provide valuable technical education to help customers successfully manage and administer cluster systems.

HPCwire: How does Linux Networx differentiate itself from other cluster vendors?

LN: Three things innovation, expertise and leadership. We're always looking ahead to what's next in the HPC market and what innovations would help make our customers more successful. Our people represent some of the leading experts in cluster technology. We've also demonstrated leadership in the market by claiming many firstswe were the first company to deliver a commercial Linux cluster, the first company to develop Linux cluster management software, and the first company to build a Linux cluster to be ranked as a top three system. We plan on continuing this leadership trend in the future.

HPCwire: You've recently been named to the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC). Tell us about your role as a member of PITAC?

LN: As a member of PITAC, I will be part of a committee appointed to advise President George W. Bush on maintaining America's preeminence in advanced information technologies. My specific role will be dedicated to addressing important issues that would affect the national IT infrastructure in the high performance computing and large-scale networking arenas. It is a great honor to be appointed to this prestigious PITAC position and have a direct impact on advancing America's computation and communications goals. Along with other PITAC members, I hope to contribute valuable information and knowledge that will expedite the nation's development of information technology.

HPCwire: There's been some recent press saying that your coveted spot as #3 on the Top 500, and builder of the fastest Linux cluster, might be overtaken. What do you have to say about that?

LN: These claims have been based purely on theoretical numbers of what a system could performnot actual performance numbers, which is how systems are ranked. Linux Networx places a higher importance on the real peak performance and system uptime, so we deliver the most productive computer possible to our customers. We're confident that Linux Networx will maintain a strong presence on the next Top 500 list.

HPCwire: What role does Linux Networx have in the Open Source community?

LN: We see the market moving towards open standards-based technologies, so Linux Networx plays a very active role in the Open Source community. One Open Source project that we are actively involved is LinuxBIOS. LinuxBIOS is an open source BIOS alternative that boots quickly, is remotely accessible, and designed specifically for cluster systems. LinuxBIOS performs the same basic functions as commercial BIOS only 10-20 times faster, making clusters more efficient and easier to manage. It's important to note that we have in-house expertise on LinuxBIOS and are co-developers of the project.

We're also major contributors to the SLURM (Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management) project. This is an open source project to create a resource manager for large cluster systems. Linux Networx continues to work on several other Open Source projects to strengthen the tools the support Linux clusters.

HPCwire: What challenges did Linux Networx have to face to get where you are today?

LN: The main challenge Linux Networx had to face was distinguishing itself from other cluster vendors. We've been successful in setting ourselves apart through our commitment to delivering turnkey cluster solutions and through our industry-acknowledged expertise. Linux Networx has also distinguished itself by adding performance and reliability to Linux clusters, offering customers peace of mind that they are purchasing a quality system from the leader in cluster technology. We are very proud of our developments and the leadership position Linux Networx has gained in the HPC industry.

HPCwire: So what's next for Linux Networx?

LN: Linux Networx continues to deliver bleeding edge cluster technology. We're currently working on new products that will make clusters more efficient and user-friendly. We employ a capable research and development engineering department to continually test and develop new cluster technologies, which is one of the reasons our customers choose us. Linux Networx will continue to innovate, share our expertise with our customers and be a leader.