Cluster Computing:

CSP SHIPS LINUX FASTCLUSTER BLADES TO ARRAY SYSTEMS

CSP Inc. MultiComputer Division, a leading supplier of embedded high- performance cluster computing systems, is pleased to announce that it has completed delivery of FastCluster systems to Array Systems Computing, Inc. (Array) for use in the Sonar Acoustic Post Processing System (SAPPS). The SAPPS architecture was developed by Array Systems Computing Inc. for the Swedish Defense Material Administration and provides the benefits of open systems enabling technology to the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN).

SAPPS will be used by the RSwN to analyze the active and passive sonar records collected by the RSwN's submarines, surface ships as well as bottom sensors and sonobuoys; electromagnetic signature data is included. This program implement's Array's Scalable Generic Signal Processor (GSP). The Scalable GSP targets computationally intense applications including Synthetic Aperture Sonar and Radar (SAR), Space Time Adaptive Processing (STAP), and Hyperspectral Processing.

FastCluster was selected for this program due to its effective scalable clustering technology, its open source Linux operating system and its demonstrated success in real-time sonar applications. Boasting a Commercial- Off-The-Shelf (COTS) modular architecture, FastCluster features the MPC7410 processor with AltiVec and the Myrinet-2000 cluster interconnect. The MPC7410 equipped with a 128-bit vector execution unit enables highly parallel processing of data streams while concurrently supporting integer and floating- point operations. The processor performance is complemented with the high- bandwidth and low latency of Myrinet-2000 to deliver a leading-edge solution for scalable signal processing applications.

The SAPPS is a general-purpose system that can process all types of sonar data from a variety of sources. It features a FastCluster central processor that supports a series of Personal Computer (PC)-based operator workstations using the Microsoft Windows(R) Operating System and interfaces with a Local Area Network (LAN). FastCluster delivers compute density and rugged features coupled with a Linux software environment on a scalable, open architecture platform providing an ideal choice in COTS high volume data processing hardware for the SAPPS.