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Linux Minicluster Computer Developed by Sandia National Labs Based on PC/104 Hardware from parvus Corporation
Four-Node Parallel Computing Device Leverages PC/104's Size to Achieve Portability and Performance
LIVERMORE, CA / SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPT 26, 2002 - parvus Corporation today announced that it has helped Sandia National Laboratories to develop a portable Linux cluster computer system based on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) PC/104 technology.
While cluster computers typically combine multiple desktop-sized PCs to work in parallel on problems too large for a single computer, Sandia's Minicluster leverages embedded PC components to achieve a high-performance, low-cost parallel processing system roughly the size of a breadbox.
Computers such as the Minicluster could potentially be used to demonstrate a wide variety of scientific and business applications, including weather prediction, human genome analysis, pharmaceutical design, aircraft and automobile design, seismic exploration, artificial intelligence, data mining, and financial analysis, among others.
"By utilizing parvus Corporation's components, packaging, and systems integration services, Sandia was able to quickly complete the Minicluster project," said Mitch Williams, engineer at Sandia's Embedded Reasoning Institute (ERI). "Our design successfully integrates all standard features of normal-sized rack-mounted clusters, including individual keyboard, video and mouse access to every node, while minimizing size to barely over a foot tall and five inches wide."
The unit incorporates a Linux OS, four PC/104 processor nodes, a 10BaseT private network, power supply, KVM switch, and an external PCMCIA wireless connection. A number of standard PC/104 products from parvus went into the cluster design, including the following:
A case study and further information describing the Minicluster can be viewed at http://www.parvus.com/parvemp/LinuxC.htm and http://eri.ca.sandia.gov
ABOUT SANDIA
Sandia is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major research and development responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.
ABOUT PARVUS
Formed in 1983, parvus Corporation is an ISO-9001 certified designer, manufacturer, and systems integrator of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) PC/104 products for embedded control environments. Its rugged, compact circuit boards and enclosure systems offer feature-rich, low-cost design solutions for military and commercial applications. For more information, visit www.parvus.com or call 801-483-1533.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
High-resolution artwork can be downloaded at http://www.parvus.com/news_releases.htm
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