Cluster Computing:

SCALI SHIPS 4.1 OF SOFTWARE WITH MYRINET-2000 SUPPORT

Scali, a leader in high performance clustering solutions, announced the 4.1 release of their cluster management (Scali Manage) and message passing interface (Scali MPI Connect) software. Significant enhancements to the products include support for Myrinet-2000 PCIXD technology from Myricom and embedded management processors from HP and Dell. Scali continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering functionality that enables customers and partners to leverage standardized high performance cluster solutions that are platform and interconnect independent.

Key 4.1 enhancements include:

• Integrated support for Myrinet PCIXD and GM-2 - Interconnect interoperable support for Myrinet PCIXD through a common DAT based interface. Application vendors are able to dynamically link their applications and select the latest Myrinet platform or other supported interconnects such as Ethernet, SCI, and InfiniBand at run time.
• Management and Monitoring of Myrinet Network - Integrated installation and configuration of Myricom’s GM-2 software and added monitoring and alarms for key Myrinet variables through a compound GUI view in Scali Manage. Installation and configuration can also be implemented through Scali MPI Connect.
• Embedded Management Processor Integration – Scali Manage supports power switching using ERA/RAC from Dell and iLO from HP and console switching using iLO from HP, reducing complexity and total cost of ownership through built in hardware management support.
• Enhanced Application Developer Tools - A rich set of features easing the development of software, including application profiling, timing, tuning, debugging, and built-in tracing.
• Enhanced Interconnect Developer Tools - Provisions for existing and add-on interconnects are provided through the use of the open DAT specification which abstracts the interconnect hardware interface from MPI specifics. This allows the selection and mixing of interconnect hardware at runtime and enables independent hardware vendors to easily plug into the Scali software stack.

"Including support for the latest release of Myrinet connectivity and GM-2 software enhances Scali’s ability to deliver high end interconnect solutions with added price performance benefits," says Håkon Bugge, vice president of development at Scali. "In this latest release, we have further simplified the installation and maintenance of cluster systems, enhanced the MPI and monitoring support for Myrinet, and added integration with leading hardware management solutions. We continue our commitment to address the needs of high performance computing users by reducing the complexity and increasing the standardization of clustering solutions."

"Myricom welcomes Scali's introduction of cluster-software packages that supplement and extend Myricom's base GM-2 software on our latest Myrinet products," says Charles L. Seitz, CEO and CTO of Myricom. "The popularity of Myrinet, an ANSI standard with open-source, cross-platform software, is due partly to Myrinet users having choices in platforms and software. Myricom plans to continue to work with Scali and with other software developers to further broaden Myrinet software offerings and cluster applications."

DETAILED LIST OF 4.1 FEATURES

SCALI MPI CONNECT 4.1

• Myrinet-2000 PCIX interconnect module and certification
• Enhanced interconnect developer tools
• Enhanced application developer tools
• Performance tuning

SCALI MANAGE 4.1

INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION

• Automatic installation and configuration of Myricom GM-2, HP Insight Manager, and Dell OpenManage
• Enhanced configuration options of NTP and NIS
• Installer option to configure additional Ethernet interfaces at nodes Monitoring and Alarms
• Added monitoring of key Myrinet variables through a compound GUI view
• Expanded selection of interconnect, networking and system monitoring variables, including monitoring of memory errors
• Flexible mapping of node related SNMP variables from third party agents such as interconnect switches and power distribution units
• Enhanced GUI customization of compact View, 2D and 3D bar view
• Extended selection of variables used in alarm expressions

EMBEDDED MANAGEMENT PROCESSORS INTEGRATION

• Added support for power switching using ERA/RAC from Dell and iLO from HP
• Added support for console switching using iLO from HP

WORK LOAD MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION

• Enhanced queue management support for OpenPBS in GUI

ADDITIONAL OPERATING SYSTEM CERTIFICATION

• Red Hat Linux 9 certification
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 AS, ES, and WS certification