The US Department of Defense is now relying on two
256-processor Linux Networx Evolocity cluster supercomputers to
improve on complex computerised battlefield
simulations.
The machines are part of the Pentagon's continuing technology
update programme, which is bringing in powerful hardware to help
expand the US' military research and development capabilities.
Linux Networx said each of the clusters was delivered and
installed at defence department high-performance computing centres
in Hawaii and Ohio.
Kevin Benedict, programme manager at the US Air Force Maui High
Performance Computing Centre, said the new machines replaced a
three-year-old, 512-processor cluster that was not powerful enough
to conduct the more complicated military simulations now being done
by the agency.
The other 256-processor cluster was installed at the
Aeronautical Systems Centre at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
in Dayton, Ohio.
The military simulations can create a battle between US forces
and an enemy that involves a combination of about 1 million troops,
tanks, vehicles, and weapons such as mortars and ground artillery,
ships and aircraft. The new supercomputer allows military personnel
to conduct simulations involving far more personnel and weapons
than ever before, Benedict said.
The Linux clusters were chosen because the defense department's
procurement programme found that they provided the best
price/performance ratio for the project.
Each of the Linux Networx clusters includes 256 dual Intel Xeon
3.06-GHz processors, disc storage from DataDirect Technologies,
Gigabit Ethernet technology, and the Clusterworx and Icebox
management tools from Linux Networx.
The clusters are part of a larger contract Linux Networx won
with the defense agency earlier this year to deliver a total of six
cluster computer systems, including a 2,132-processor system Linux
Networx is now building for the Army Research Laboratory.
Todd R Weiss writes for Computerworld