TERRA SOFT OFFERS PORTABLE, 8-NODE POWER PC LINUX CLUSTERS
Loveland, CO — 07 September 2000 — Terra Soft Solutions, Inc., the
leading developer of Linux solutions for PowerPC(tm) microprocessors, has
announced the offering of a portable, affordable, 8-node PowerPC cluster
with Black Lab Linux installed and configured for parallel processing and
development.
Parallel processing refers to speeding-up code execution by dividing the
program into multiple fragments that can execute simultaneously across
multiple computers. “Not everyone requires a room full of nodes to benefit
from high-performance computing. We recognized the need for a powerful,
light weight, Black Lab Linux cluster that could literally be wheeled from
room to room in a laboratory, school, or code development environment.
Parallel code development can be a bit tricky and it is often comforting to
have the entire cluster next to your desk. Our clusters will help
developers get their feet wet with PowerPC Linux parallel computing,”
stated Kai Staats, CEO of Terra Soft Solutions.
Terra Soft’s first customer is MIICRO, Inc., an imaging technology company
with a patented neuroimaging method for the evaluation of CNS drugs using
positron emission tomography (PET). MIICRO will use the parallel system to
develop its neuroinformatics services for the rapid screening of CNS
compounds, and the development of high-speed image analysis tools.
“Working with Terra Soft provides a great opportunity for us. Linux
continues to play a vital role in the development of our commercial
services and intellectual property,” states Declan Cooper, VP of Technology
for MIICRO, Inc. “Their cluster makes possible for us to port our code from
a uni-processing mode to parallel processing mode for considerably less
than we had anticipated. Our research has shown the PowerPC to be a strong
and fast platform, it is therefore natural for us stay with the same
platform for parallel code development,” says Cooper.
Staats concludes, “Black Lab Linux offers the ability to develop and use
code on a single Apple G4, our 8-node clusters, or larger PowerPC parallel
systems with little or no re-coding.”
Details of the 8-node Black Lab Linux systems are a follows:
Portable Black Lab Linux clusters:
– welded aluminum frame by Marathon Computer
– finished dimensions: 19.5″ tall x 18.5″ deep x 21″ wide
– 4 industrial strength, rubber-coated casters
– approx weight: 150 lbs
– 24 port managed switch & eth cables
– 8 Marathon iRack cases
– 8 iMac logic boards
– 8 video cards
– 8 CD-ROM’s
– 8 Ultra DMA 66, 7200 RPM drives
– 8 power supplies & cables
– 1 USB keyboard, 1 USB mouse
The logic boards are offered in speeds from 233 – 400 MHz with 32 – 512 MB
RAM on each board. Terra Soft offers support and application development
services. 8-node systems start at $18,400.
About MIICRO Inc.
MIICRO, Inc. is privately held company that has developed a patented
neuroimaging method for measuring and evaluating drug effects on the
brain’s metabolism of glucose. The company’s core technology (OMEI)
utilizes PET and uses the radiotracer F-18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG). For
more information, please visit http://www.miicro.com/
About Terra Soft Solutions, Inc.
Terra Soft Solutions, Inc. is a leading developer of innovative
technologies for PowerPC Linux. Black Lab Linux provides an advanced Linux
distribution for development, parallel computing, and embedded systems. For
more information, please visit http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com and
http://www.blacklablinux.com
