By Niladri Sekhar Nath
TMCnet Contributing Editor
In a bid to speed up the growth of high-performance computing (HPC) – from deskside supercomputers to high-end petaflop-sized clusters, Intel (News - Alert) Corp. has introduced Intel Cluster Ready and Intel Connects Cables. These two offerings simplify cluster use and deployment with high-performance computing use expanding from academic and scientific realms to more mainstream use in data centers.
Intel Cluster Ready facilitates the deployment, usage and management of clustered computer systems by providing a standardized and replicable way to build clusters and run "off-the-shelf" high-performance applications. The program includes a specification that sets minimum standards for software and hardware components.
Intel Cluster Ready also includes a software registration process for compatible HPC applications and a hardware certification process that makes use of the Intel Cluster Checker. Intel Cluster Checker also includes fault isolation, helping to improve early detection of cluster problems that can decrease productivity and increase support costs.
"In the past, HPC buyers faced increasing fragmentation and uncertainty among the disparate mix of available cluster solutions," said Richard Dracott, general manager, Intel High Performance Systems. "With Intel Cluster Ready, organizations can purchase their clusters with the peace of mind of knowing that the equipment and applications are certified to work together. Instead of spending months defining and deploying a cluster, the buyer experience is more similar to buying an enterprise server."
Intel Connects Cables solve several problems that organizations always face deploying clusters. According to Intel's own testing, Intel Connects Cables are 84% lighter than copper cables, 83 percent smaller and have a 40 percent smaller bend radius. These factors facilitate installation and expansion, and create better airflow.
"Intel Connects Cables are a valuable addition to Intel's HPC portfolio," explained Dracott. "Cluster size is directly related to cable length, and companies are eager to use technology that will alleviate the challenges of deploying large-scale clusters. With their lighter weight and unmatched flexibility and length, Intel Connects Cable will help drive the expansion of enterprise clusters and enable companies to fully harness their supercomputing capabilities to increase their ability to innovate and compete."
Niladri Sekhar Nath is a contributing writer for TMCnet covering telecommunications, service providers and networking
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