Linux Networx announced today that two Department of Defense
(DoD) high performance computing centers have each received a
256-processor Evolocity Linux Networx cluster computing system. The
cluster procurement is part of the Technology Insertion 2004
(TI-04) program, an initiative to continually modernize the
Department of Defense high performance computing (HPC)
capabilities.
The US Air Force’s Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC)
and the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) Major Shared Resource
Center (MSRC), both centers of the DoD High Performance Computing
Modernization Program (HPCMP), are recipients of the two Evolocity
cluster systems.
Joint Forces Command (J9) will utilize the clusters to simulate
combat operations on a world-wide virtual battlefield. Military
personnel at J9, and other distributed sites around the country,
will interact directly with the computers at MHPCC and ASC as they
participate in large scale, high resolution simulations not
possible before the delivery of the new cluster computers. For
example, the clusters can simulate moving 3,000 U.S. troops among 1
million civilian vehicles.
“Our selection methods are rigorous to ensure the technology we
adopt is reliable, robust and mature enough to support our
demanding environments,” said Major Kevin Benedict, Program Manager
at MHPCC. “The Linux cluster from Linux Networx has proven to be a
high productivity system and is helping the HPCMP achieve our
computing objectives.”
The HPCMP provides the supercomputer services, high-speed network
communications, and computational science expertise that enables
the U.S. Defense laboratories, such as MHPCC and ASC, to conduct a
wide range of focused research, development, and test activities.
The Linux Networx clusters are 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.
The clusters delivered to MHPCC and ASC MSRC are part of a larger
contract Linux Networx won with the DoD earlier this year to
deliver a total of six cluster computer systems to DoD HPCMP
centers, including a 2,132-processor system Linux Networx is
building for the Army Research Laboratory.
Both Linux Networx clusters delivered to MHPCC and ASC MSRC include
256 dual Intel Xeon 3.06 GHz processors, disk storage from
DataDirect, Gigabit Ethernet technology and Clusterworx and Icebox
management tools from Linux Networx.
“The fact that the Department of Defense is using Linux clusters in
a production environment is a significant step forward for this
technology,” said Jeff Graham, Deputy Director at the ASC MSRC.
“Linux Networx focuses on delivering high productivity clusters,
and we are excited about the current and potential future
contributions clusters are making in servicing the HPCMP’s customer
base.”