UMaine Building 256 Node G5 Supercomputer

MacRumors · 04:33 PM

In a press release, the University of Maine announced its intentions to build a 256-node cluster of G5 Xserves at the Target Technology Center in Orono. Progress on building the machine can be watched in their online gallery, as well as a webcam mounted on the server room door.

Aided with funding from the US Army, this $680,000 cluster will remain running 24/7 and will be available for use by both UMaine researchers and businesses. Dubbed "Baby MACH 5", this machine is meant to be a running test for the US Army's installation of it's 1566 node cluster dubbed MACH 5.

256 node clusters seem to be a magic number, with the recent release of the UCLA Plasma Physics Xserve cluster also having 256 nodes.

mmmbop · Jul 13, 2004, 02:46 PM

Apple: Supercomputers for the rest of us.

Who isn't building a G5 supercomputer these days?

animationkid · Jul 13, 2004, 02:46 PM

is it just me or are super computers made of G5s the official "IN" thing at the moment

GFLPraxis · Jul 13, 2004, 02:46 PM

Great! That means we get to wait even longer for our G5's to ship!

On the bright side, this also means that more people are adopting Apple computers...increased sales may mean decreased prices eventually

Laslo Panaflex · Jul 13, 2004, 02:47 PM

Mach 5?

"Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go!"

Freg3000 · Jul 13, 2004, 02:49 PM

For the record: This is a different machine than the Army one we heard about a couple weeks ago?

I think it is but I want to make sure.

musicpyrite · Jul 13, 2004, 02:50 PM

Just another step for Apple.

Mudbug · Jul 13, 2004, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freg3000

For the record: This is a different machine than the Army one we heard about a couple weeks ago?

I think it is but I want to make sure.

It is indeed a different machine. the army is partially funding this one to get a good look at the setup/maintenance before sticking their own together.

itsa · Jul 13, 2004, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GFLPraxis

Great! That means we get to wait even longer for our G5's to ship!

On the bright side, this also means that more people are adopting Apple computers...increased sales may mean decreased prices eventually

Easy now!!!

Mudbug · Jul 13, 2004, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFNE Freak

What happened to the huge air intakes?

these are cluster nodes - the front is different on them, not needing the same layout as the full server version.

Skraemer123 · Jul 13, 2004, 02:59 PM

The cluster nodes don't seem to have the huge air intakes look at apples website. I ownder why the otherones need them then?

Soire · Jul 13, 2004, 03:03 PM

Can I just say that it's all the right places that are running with these Apple supercomputers?

If you know what I mean, not to be a snob or anything, but from what I've heard the places that are using extensive Apple products are:

-Virginia Tech
-US Army
-UCLA
-UMaine
-Princeton

I think apples would go quite well at these places. They've got that Appley feel and are down to earth, no BS places. Just as long as Harvard doesn't start using macs, I think Apple has attracted some upstanding customers. "Just my $.02" as ya'll say.

the_mole1314 · Jul 13, 2004, 03:03 PM

Watch the web cam, it's LIVE. They're installing the units RIGHT now!

michaelrjohnson · Jul 13, 2004, 03:06 PM

This is definitly a positive thing for Apple. No doubt.

Buzzfish · Jul 13, 2004, 03:12 PM

As a UMaine Computer science Alum, this is some of the coolest news I've heard in a long time.

Wish i was back up there now!

slipper · Jul 13, 2004, 03:13 PM

so wait, are these the 2.5ghz xserves?

jackieonasses · Jul 13, 2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slipper

so wait, are these the 2.5ghz xserves?

i dont see those at the apple store do you?

pgwalsh · Jul 13, 2004, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soire

Just as long as Harvard doesn't start using macs, I think Apple has attracted some upstanding customers.

What do you have against Harvard?

It appears from the pictures that each node has one U space between the lower and uper node. I suppose this is for cooling, but I wonder if this was Apples suggestion or something they decided to do...

Has anyone seen the updated pictures of the Virginia Tech supercomputer?

sonyrules · Jul 13, 2004, 03:23 PM

Man, What a deal. Apple is just going off the charts with the Xserve. This keeps up, IBM is going to be BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Just wait till 2.5 Xserves come out. OH and someone need to call cnet, i guess they underestimated the xserve also.

GO APPLE, WHERE MY G5 POWERBOOK?? *L* had to say it

nagromme · 05:06 PM

That's a lot of Mac clusters lately. Big Mac/System X, Mach 5, Baby Mach 5, UCLA Plasma... and some others smaller than 256 I think?

Xserve Cluster Nodes lack the big intakes--but they probably don't have much airflow/heat problem since they are missing lots of internals... like any drives at all. (EDIT: one HD of course... no optical drive, no additional HD bays.)

The extra in-between space in the racks probably just means they have space to spare

yamabushi · Jul 13, 2004, 03:27 PM

A 2TFlop+ cluster like this one is going to be is pretty powerful. It would easily be in the top 500 supercomputer list. In fact, it should probably make the top 100 this fall if they decide to post benchmark results.

MacsRgr8 · Jul 13, 2004, 03:31 PM

WOW.....

It's getting better and better.....
who would have thought all these G5 "super computers" a couple of years ago.

A G5 super computer is getting to be more "in" than an iPod

Soire · Jul 13, 2004, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgwalsh

What do you have against Harvard?

I don't like Harvard much is all.

Princeton yes, Harvard no.

dizastor · Jul 13, 2004, 03:39 PM

Wow. I'm really impressed with apple's leap into the supercomputer arena.

This has to be good for business.
Not that supercomputers are going to sell like ipods, but never the less.... it's still great news.

Mudbug · Jul 13, 2004, 03:41 PM

Viriginia Tech has apparently completed its transmutation to G5 Xserves from the original G5 desktop models. The system is currently undergoing stability testing, and benchmarking should begin on or around July 19th.

http://www.tcf.vt.edu/

Jul 13, 2004, 02:42 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	UMaine Building 256 Node G5 Supercomputer In a press release, the University of Maine announced its intentions to build a 256-node cluster of G5 Xserves at the Target Technology Center in Orono. Progress on building the machine can be watched in their online gallery, as well as a webcam mounted on the server room door. Aided with funding from the US Army, this $680,000 cluster will remain running 24/7 and will be available for use by both UMaine researchers and businesses. Dubbed "Baby MACH 5", this machine is meant to be a running test for the US Army's installation of it's 1566 node cluster dubbed MACH 5. 256 node clusters seem to be a magic number, with the recent release of the UCLA Plasma Physics Xserve cluster also having 256 nodes. Last edited by Mudbug : Jul 13, 2004 at 04:33 PM.

Jul 13, 2004, 02:46 PM	#3
animationkid macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina	is it just me or are super computers made of G5s the official "IN" thing at the moment __________________ I am unique, just like everyone else.

Jul 13, 2004, 02:47 PM	#5
Laslo Panaflex macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kaliforniah	Mach 5? "Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go!" __________________ Mac Pro 2.6ghz, 3GB RAM, ATI X1900xt

Jul 13, 2004, 02:49 PM	#6
Freg3000 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New York	For the record: This is a different machine than the Army one we heard about a couple weeks ago? I think it is but I want to make sure. __________________ FregTK This Is Momentum.

Jul 13, 2004, 02:50 PM	#7
musicpyrite macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cape Cod	Just another step for Apple. __________________ For SCIENCE!!

Jul 13, 2004, 02:46 PM	#2
mmmbop macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London	Apple: Supercomputers for the rest of us. Who isn't building a G5 supercomputer these days?

Jul 13, 2004, 02:46 PM	#4
GFLPraxis macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2004	Great! That means we get to wait even longer for our G5's to ship! On the bright side, this also means that more people are adopting Apple computers...increased sales may mean decreased prices eventually

Jul 13, 2004, 02:59 PM	#11
Skraemer123 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2004	The cluster nodes don't seem to have the huge air intakes look at apples website. I ownder why the otherones need them then?

Jul 13, 2004, 03:03 PM	#12
Soire macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Garden State	Can I just say that it's all the right places that are running with these Apple supercomputers? If you know what I mean, not to be a snob or anything, but from what I've heard the places that are using extensive Apple products are: -Virginia Tech -US Army -UCLA -UMaine -Princeton I think apples would go quite well at these places. They've got that Appley feel and are down to earth, no BS places. Just as long as Harvard doesn't start using macs, I think Apple has attracted some upstanding customers. "Just my $.02" as ya'll say.

Jul 13, 2004, 03:03 PM	#13
the_mole1314 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dayton, OH	Watch the web cam, it's LIVE. They're installing the units RIGHT now! __________________ 13" MacBook Pro 2.53GHz (base model) iPod touch, nano, shuffle, iPod 3gen

Jul 13, 2004, 03:06 PM	#14
michaelrjohnson macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: 54140	This is definitly a positive thing for Apple. No doubt. __________________

Jul 13, 2004, 03:12 PM	#15
Buzzfish macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2004	As a UMaine Computer science Alum, this is some of the coolest news I've heard in a long time. Wish i was back up there now!

Jul 13, 2004, 03:13 PM	#16
slipper macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2003	so wait, are these the 2.5ghz xserves?

Jul 13, 2004, 03:23 PM	#19
sonyrules macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ohio	Man, What a deal. Apple is just going off the charts with the Xserve. This keeps up, IBM is going to be BUSY BUSY BUSY! Just wait till 2.5 Xserves come out. OH and someone need to call cnet, i guess they underestimated the xserve also. GO APPLE, WHERE MY G5 POWERBOOK?? L had to say it __________________ "Using an apple a day, will keep the system crashing, blue screen, file losing, unstable system, memory dump, fatal errors that need to be sent to microsoft, unsecure, and other windows problems away!"

Jul 13, 2004, 03:26 PM	#20
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	That's a lot of Mac clusters lately. Big Mac/System X, Mach 5, Baby Mach 5, UCLA Plasma... and some others smaller than 256 I think? Xserve Cluster Nodes lack the big intakes--but they probably don't have much airflow/heat problem since they are missing lots of internals... like any drives at all. (EDIT: one HD of course... no optical drive, no additional HD bays.) The extra in-between space in the racks probably just means they have space to spare __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment? Last edited by nagromme : Jul 13, 2004 at 05:06 PM.

Jul 13, 2004, 03:27 PM	#21
yamabushi macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003	A 2TFlop+ cluster like this one is going to be is pretty powerful. It would easily be in the top 500 supercomputer list. In fact, it should probably make the top 100 this fall if they decide to post benchmark results.

Jul 13, 2004, 03:31 PM	#22
MacsRgr8 macrumors 601 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Netherlands	WOW..... It's getting better and better..... who would have thought all these G5 "super computers" a couple of years ago. A G5 super computer is getting to be more "in" than an iPod __________________ Drag and Drop for Windows users: DRAG your peecee off your desk, and DROP it in the trash.

Jul 13, 2004, 03:39 PM	#24
dizastor macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Los Angeles	Wow. I'm really impressed with apple's leap into the supercomputer arena. This has to be good for business. Not that supercomputers are going to sell like ipods, but never the less.... it's still great news. __________________ ejc on Twitter

Jul 13, 2004, 03:41 PM	#25
Mudbug macrumors god Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Northwest Louisiana	On a related note: Viriginia Tech has apparently completed its transmutation to G5 Xserves from the original G5 desktop models. The system is currently undergoing stability testing, and benchmarking should begin on or around July 19th. http://www.tcf.vt.edu/ __________________ happy thankschrismahanakwaanzicasmasgiving.

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