From:	 "Brad Rutledge" <brutledge@linuxnetworx.com>
To:	 "lwn@lwn.net" <lwn@lwn.net>
Subject: Linux NetworX to Unveil Innovative ICE Box(TM) Cluster Hardware Appliance
Date:	 Wed, 31 Oct 2001 10:06:23 -0700

Linux NetworX to Unveil Innovative ICE Box(TM) Cluster Hardware Appliance at 
SC2001 Trade Show
ICE Box 1500 Provides Advanced Serial Switching and Remote Power Control 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, Oct. 31, 2001 - Linux NetworX, a provider of powerful and 
easy-to-manage Linux cluster computing solutions, announced today plans to unveil 
its innovative ICE Box 1500 cluster management hardware appliance at the SC2001 
trade show in Denver, Nov. 12-15. ICE Box empowers administrators with advanced 
serial switching and remote power control capabilities, and is the only appliance 
of its kind designed specifically to improve the manageability of Linux clusters. 
This is the latest product development focused on improving cluster management 
from Linux NetworX.

ICE Box features include node health and environmental monitoring, power control, 
node reset capabilities, and advanced serial switching, which allows administrators 
to maintain redundant serial connections in a cluster. By providing direct serial 
access to individual nodes within the cluster, ICE Box delivers a level of control, 
convenience and manageability not previously available for Linux cluster systems.

"IDC's many studies on cost of ownership and return on investment typically show 
that staffing makes up over fifty percent of the cost of a computing solution," 
said Dan Kusnetzky, vice president system software research at IDC. "Clustering 
products, such as ICE Box and ClusterWorX®, are clearly focused on reducing those 
costs in an environment in which the power of many systems has been harnessed 
together for reliability or higher performance."

Tularik, a biotechnology company specializing in drug discovery and development 
using gene regulation, is using a 150 processor Evolocity cluster from Linux 
NetworX, and is one of the first organizations to use ICE Box in production.

"The ICE Box appliance is an ideal cluster management tool that provides vital 
features like serial access to nodes and remote power control so I never need 
to go down to the server room," said Gene Cutler, bioinformatics scientist for 
Tularik. "Cluster management tools from Linux NetworX are setting the standard 
- ICE tools allow us to concentrate on finding new genes that cause disease and 
not worry about cluster management."

ICE Box is an integral component of the Linux NetworX Integrated Cluster Environment 
(ICE)(TM) cluster management tools, which also includes ClusterWorX management 
software. Computer cluster technology is a method of linking multiple computers, 
or nodes, together to form a unified, more powerful and reliable system.

Until now, cluster management has been a barrier to the wider adoption of Linux 
clustering. ICE cluster management tools allow administrators to control the 
cluster from a single interface, while providing the tools to monitor and take 
action on the cluster onsite or remotely. Each Linux NetworX Evolocity(TM) cluster 
is integrated with ICE cluster management tools.

ICE Box has already received significant attention when it, as part of the ICE 
product offering, received the Best Integrated Solution Award at the LinuxWorld 
Expo in San Francisco, Aug. 2001.

To view or download images of ICE Box, or for more information, please visit 
the ICE Box online press kit at http://www.linuxnetworx.com/news/ice_kit.php

About ICE Box
ICE Box is a scalable hardware appliance, enabling administrators to manage their 
Linux cluster systems with direct node access, advanced power control, temperature 
monitoring, redundant serial connections, and local and remote access. Powered 
by Linux for stable runtime environment, ICE Box can be updated without cluster 
downtime. ICE Box can integrate with ClusterWorX for a complete cluster management 
solution. With a unique hardware design, ICE Box rackmounts into standard 19-inch 
racks without taking up any usable rackspace.

Features
Hardware
· Remote temperature monitoring of CPU temperatures
· Serial concentrator
· 10Base-T Ethernet connection
· Node reset
· Multiple ICE Boxes can be linked to support large clusters (up to 2560 nodes)
· Fits in standard 19-inch rack without taking up usable rack space
· 12 serial ports (supports 10 nodes and two auxiliary devices per box)
· 12 AC sockets (10 switchable, two auxiliary)
· Embedded CPU powered by Linux for stable runtime environment
· ICE Box software update capability without cluster downtime
· Integrates with ClusterWorX
· Access using standard terminal emulator or Telnet client (such as Minicom and 
Linux Telnet)
· Power sequencing on start-up

Command and Control
· Remote power control and reset of individual nodes
· Onsite node management using keypad and LCD display
· Serial data buffering from each node
· Command line interface for extensive control and monitoring capabilities
· Serial communication network
· Out of Band (serial support from host to any node) network communication
· Direct port connections (reverse Telnet)
· Command line interface accessible via Telnet


About Linux NetworX
Linux NetworX (www.linuxnetworx.com) brings its powerful and easy-to-manage cluster 
technology to those demanding high availability and high performance systems. 
Linux NetworX provides solutions for organizations involved in aeronautical and 
chemical modeling, biotechnology research, oil and gas exploration, graphics 
rendering and visual effects, Web serving, ISPs, ASPs, and other technological 
research fields. Through its innovative Evolocity hardware, ICE cluster management 
tools and professional service and support, Linux NetworX provides end-to-end 
clustering solutions. To date, the company has built some of the largest cluster 
systems in the world, and boasts numerous Fortune 500 customers.

# # #

Linux is a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. All other products, 
services and companies are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective 
owners.


Brad Rutledge
Linux NetworX
www.linuxnetworx.com
801-562-1010 ext. 218