Cluster Computing:

ASPEN SYSTEMS INTRODUCES GLACIER DUAL BLADE SERVER SYSTEM

Aspen Systems, a leader in the custom design, manufacture and service of Linux-based supercomputing clusters and a wide array of additional high performance computing (HPC) solutions, introduces the Glacier Dual Blade Server System, based on dual Intel Xeon processors. The Glacier Dual Blade Server System delivers equivalent performance and capabilities of a rack server, but with easier installation, service and management.

Aspen Systems’ Glacier Dual Blade Server System makes networking and storage expansion simple with dual integrated network environment support and internal and external storage expansion capabilities. The blade server platform is also highly reliable thanks to built-in redundancy for every component. You can even mix and match a wide variety of blades in the same chassis.

No tools or expertise are required to add, remove or replace a new blade in the system, and there are no cables to disconnect. The compute blade connects to the server chassis and other components through a midplane. This midplane replaces an average of nine cables typically required in rack and pedestal server configurations, eliminating excessive cables.

Individual blades are easily managed locally or anywhere on your network with the Intel Server Management Module SBCECMM with integrated Chassis-level system management and a KVM switch. The Server Management Module, integrated into the Intel Server Chassis SBCE, streamlines and simplifies the management of all 14 server blades in a single chassis.

“The Glacier Dual Xeon Blade Server System has 14 dual processor server blades in a 7U chassis. That is twice the density of rack-mounted servers,” stated Tom Leinberger, VP of Sales at Aspen Systems. “This system allows you to be more productive with fewer resources, and reduces the overall infrastructure and support costs.”

"We're pleased to be working with Aspen Systems as they introduce their new Blade Server based on the Intel Xeon processor," said Phil Brace, director of marketing, Enterprise Platforms & Services Marketing, Intel Corporation. "The Intel Xeon processor offers outstanding platform dependability, value and versatility."

The Blade Server System Architecture

• 7U Chassis supports up to 14 individual blades, each ultra-thin blade consist of processors, memory and storage options
• Dual Intel Xeon processors running at 2.67 GHz, 2.8 GHz, and future speeds
• Dual integrated network environment support
• Internal and external storage expansion capabilities
• Integrated Chassis-level system management and KVM switch for compute blade configuration, control and status

About Aspen Systems

Aspen Systems, Inc., a privately held corporation, has been serving the high- performance, technical computing community with expertise in custom computer hardware design, manufacturing and service for over 20 years. Their expertise includes a variety of high-performance technical computing disciplines with emphasis on serving the needs of advanced technical computing users and corporations that use the most demanding applications. Aspen Systems has built their reputation, as a leading provider of Beowulf clustering solutions by offering multiple configurations with a choice of processors and connectivity for specific performance needs. First class technical support and state-of-the-art products allows Aspen Systems to create and support the high-performance solutions that customers in the Weather Modeling, Financial Modeling, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Bio- tech, and Geophysics Research fields (among other compute-intensive parallel markets) demand. For more information about Aspen Systems, visit their website at http://www.aspsys.com.

Intel Xeon Processor

The Intel Xeon Processor is designed for dual-processor server and workstation platforms. Now available at speeds up to 3.20 GHz with 1MB cache, the Intel Xeon processor with 533 MHz system bus provides outstanding performance and headroom for your dual processor (DP) workstation and server applications. Available in speeds of 3.20, 3.06, 2.80, 2.66, 2.40, and 2 GHz, the 533 MHz system bus frequency supports greater memory, I/O and graphic bandwidths. Based on the Intel NetBurst microarchitecture, the Intel Xeon processor with 533 MHz system bus also includes 512KB L2 cache (3.20 and 3.06 GHz available with 1MB cache) and Hyper-Threading Technology.