To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: FYI: IBM RS/6000 SP and Netfinity Linux HyperCluster in New Mexico 
 (fwd)
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 09:40:27 +0100


ALBUQUERQUE, NM--Dec. 13, 1999--IBM and the University of New Mexico (UNM) 
today announced a joint research project to integrate leading-edge IBM 
RS/6000 SP supercomputing technology running AIX, IBM's UNIX operating
system, with the fast-developing world of Linux superclusters. A Linux
supercluster is made up of off-the-shelf PCs or workstations interconnected
with high-speed networking technologies, having large storage capabilities
and running under the Linux operating system.

The system, called Vista Azul (Blue Vista in Spanish), will create a unique
"hypercluster" environment composed of IBM SP and Linux technologies, that
will allow researchers to explore the optimal use of Linux for scientific
applications as well as management strategies for hybrid clusters. This
multi-technology platform will serve as a test bed for UNM and IBM
researchers to integrate heterogeneous information systems into a solution
that could be replicated at other science and technology sites.

"Our goal is to explore the boundaries of high-performance computing by
connecting cutting-edge IBM deep computing technology with Linux clusters,"
said Rod Adkins, general manager, IBM RS/6000. "We expect the hypercluster
will enable researchers at UNM to pursue the solution of difficult problems
in scientific and visual computing while also creating insight into
interesting issues of interoperability between Linux and AIX clusters."

An IBM Shared University Research (SUR) grant awarded to the University of
New Mexico's High Performance Computing, Education, and Research Center
(PCERC) will provide the hypercluster hardware and software. This will
include an AIX-based symmetric multi-processor IBM RS/6000 SP system and a
Linux-based symmetric multi-processor IBM Netfinity cluster, as well as an
advanced networking infrastructure, parallel data storage, and a prototype
Scalable Graphics Engine from IBM Research for use in visualization
research.

"UNM hosts a Linux supercluster for the National Science Foundation's
National Computational Science Alliance (Alliance) at the Albuquerque High
Performance Computing Center (AHPCC) and a large, DoD-funded IBM SP
configuration at the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC)," said
Dr. William Gordon, president of UNM. "Vista Azul will capitalize on our
expertise with these technologies and user groups to investigate hybrid
technologies to solve a wide array of computational applications problems."

Building Vista Azul will require the development of advanced networking
technology,
new programming techniques for hybrid computational systems, and integrat=
ed
concurrent visualization software. The Vista Azul project promises a clos=
e
collaboration
among IBM researchers and UNM faculty, students, and staff.

Members of the scientific research teams will work to move a number of
computationally intensive applications to the hypercluster, including
software devoted to the quantum mechanics of materials engineering, the
dynamics of atom-ion collisions, and the physics of multiphase flows. Vista
Azul will also include the hardware and software necessary to effectively
support data-intensive applications, such as the data mining of very large
scientific and commercial databases. Lastly, UNM's existing Alliance
Roadrunner Linux Supercluster will be integrated with Vista Azul to
demonstrate complete interoperability.

"We believe heterogeneous supercomputer clusters, such an IBM RS/6000 SP
and commodity PCs running Linux, constitute an important trend in high-end
technical computing," said Frank Gilfeather, director of the HPCERC at
UNM. "The joint IBM and UNM effort is a critical step to this future. The
Vista Azul Project will allow researchers across many disciplines to
investigate hybrid technology and experimental visualization equipment to
achieve new and powerful results."

IBM Research is the world's largest research organization dedicated to
information technology, with eight labs around the world, including Austin,
Beijing, Delhi, Haifa, Tokyo, San Jose, Yorktown Heights (New York), and
Zurich.

UNM is a Carnegie Research I university, one of 88 in the country. This
high distinction is carried by 59 public and 29 private institutions. Among
UNM's outstanding research units are the Cancer Center, New Mexico
Engineering Research Institute, Center for High Technology Materials,
Center for Micro-Engineered Ceramics and the Center for Non-Invasive
Diagnosis.

IBM, RS/6000, and AIX are registered trademarks or trademarks of the
International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other
countries, or both.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, 
licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Limited. Other company,
product and service names, which may be denoted by a double asterisk (**)
may be trademarks or service marks of others.


Dr. Juan Jose Porta
Information Technology Architect
Member of the IBM Technical Expert Council (TEC)
Phone : +49-172-7315979   Fax : +49-7152-929386
mailto:porta@de.ibm.com