Cluster Computing:

PLUG AND PLAY CLUSTER SOFTWARE'S PRO VERSION DEBUTS

While releasing version 1.5 of Pooch, Dauger Research, Inc., debuts Pooch Pro, an enhanced version of the Parallel OperatiOn and Control Heuristic application. Pooch Pro debuts new supercomputer-level capabilities to administrate and control cluster resources. Pooch Pro provides an unprecedented and unmatched combination of powerful management and maintenance of cluster resources with a modern, drag- and-drop, graphical user interface. With its intuitive dynamic job queue and scheduling system, this new version of Pooch makes supercomputing capabilities accessible, maximizing the power of clusters for its users.

Pooch Pro debuts with features like those at supercomputing centers. Pooch Pro users are given quotas, password-based cluster access, and rollover time. Administrators can use Pooch Pro to share cluster resources by configuring user accounts, groups, and users' access to computational power, all in a straightforward, easy-to-use, graphical user interface. Pooch Pro even utilizes Apple's CDSA implementation for secure data encryption.

Pooch and Pooch Pro can utilize logged out OS X machines for parallel computing, and supports automated grid behavior and cluster access for other desktop applications. Pooch's tolerance for variations in node configuration and execution environments is unparalleled. The Pooch product family continues the legacy features of combining computational resources over the Internet with a mouse click and installation on a node in seconds.

Pooch v1.5 is available for US$175 for the first compute node then US$125 for each node thereafter. Pooch Pro v1.5 is available for US$200 for the first compute node then US$150 for each node thereafter. See the web site for special academic pricing.

Pooch requires networked Macintoshes and/or XServe's running Mac OS 9 with CarbonLib 1.2 or later, Mac OS X 10.2 or later, and/or Mac OS X Server 10.2 or later with 4 MB of available RAM and 2 MB of disk space. Pooch Pro requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later, and/or Mac OS X Server 10.2 or later.