Department of Defense HPCMP selects Linux Networx for Army Research Laboratory cluster.

Linux Networx announced recently that the Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP), has purchased a 2,132-processor Evolocity II (E2) cluster from Linux Networx for the Army Research Laboratory Major Shared Resource Center (MSRC). When the system is fully deployed in mid-2004, it will be the HPCMP's largest deployment of an Intel processor-based Linux cluster, and the solution will adopt Intel 64-bit extension technology.

The Linux Networx cluster is procured as part of the Technology Insertion 2004 (TI-04) program, an initiative to modernize the Department of Defense high performance computing (HPC) capabilities. The HPCMP provides the supercomputer services, high-speed network communications, and computational science expertise that enables the U.S. Defense laboratories, such as ARL, to conduct a wide range of focused research, development, and test activities. The Linux Networx cluster is a part of this partnership to put advanced technology in the hands of U.S. armed forces more quickly, less expensively, and with greater certainty of success. As part of the TI-04 program, Linux Networx will deliver five other cluster systems to other DoD HPCMP Centers. Details about the five other DoD HPCMP cluster systems will be released later this year. Specific financial details about the Linux Networx systems were not disclosed.

To prove Linux cluster technology was capable of providing the reliability and power necessary for the HPCMP, Linux Networx spent one year running rigorous benchmarks and tests at the Solutions Center, a state-of-the art testing and evaluation facility located at the Linux Networx headquarters in Salt Lake City.

The Linux Networx cluster will include 1,066 nodes with dual Intel Xeon 3.6 GHz processors and Intel 64-bit extension technology. Clusterworx 3.0 and ICE Box, management tools from Linux Networx will be deployed on the cluster to provide total cluster management from one interface. The cluster will also use the Myrinet high-speed interconnect from Myricom and Gigabit Ethernet technology from Foundry Networks, Inc.

"By achieving a contract award through TI-04, Linux Networx has proven cluster technology is reliable, robust and mature enough to be selected in even in the most demanding environment," said Thomas Kendall, lead systems engineer at the ARL MSRC. "This system will be a key component of the ARL MSRC and the entire DoD Modernization Program."

Last year, Linux Networx delivered a 256-processor cluster, named Powell, to ARL as part of the Technology Insertion 2003 program. The success of the Powell cluster helped secure the TI-04 procurement for Linux Networx. Linux Networx and Intel are working closely with ARL cluster system users to port and tune ARL applications code to run on the new system.

"The DoD's adoption of cluster technology for the Technology Insertion program continues to validate our technology's reliability and high performance computing capabilities," said Dean Hutchings, COO of Linux Networx. "The stringent requirements Linux Networx was able to meet for this procurement lend another proof point to our leadership position in the Linux cluster market."

"Intel Xeon processors and Linux Networx technology provide a flexible solution to the DoD," said Richard Dracott, general manager, Enterprise Marketing & Planning, Intel Corporation. "Intel Xeon and Intel Itanium 2-based server platforms deliver the performance, reliability and scalability necessary for the most demanding high performance computing solutions."