Bunches of Linux clusters on tap at BioIT World, ClusterWorld shows

Between last week’s BioIT World conference in Boston, and the ClusterWorld conference in San Francisco this week, there should be enough announcements for users interested in Linux-based high performance computing news.   The BioIT World show focused on technologies used in the biomedical research and development industries, where Linux clustering has become a popular tool.

Between last week’s BioIT World conference in Boston, and the ClusterWorld conference in San Francisco this week, there should be enough announcements for users interested in Linux-based high performance computing news. 

The BioIT World show focused on technologies used in the biomedical research and development industries, where Linux clustering has become a popular tool.

Instead of paying for heavy-duty supercomputers, many research labs and institutions are finding better, more cost-effective performance from clusters of inexpensive PCs linked together with high-speed interconnects, or even high-speed LAN switches. Aspen Systems (http://www.aspensystems.com) at BioIT World showed off its “turnkey” Beowulf-based Linux cluster systems, with configured Linux boxes and control software. The firm also offers custom-orderable Linux clustering systems. These systems are targeted at genetics and pharmaceutical research applications.

Also at BioIT World was Paracel (http://www.paracel.com), which demonstrated its latest Paracel Cyclone pre-configured Linux cluster boxes. The racks can be ordered with a variety of hardware options – Intel or AMD processors and RAID configurations for storage, as well as Gigabit Ethernet or Myrinet channel-attached cluster interconnects. Proprietary software runs on top of the Linux cluster to tie the systems together. (Paracel clusters were used in part of the Human Genome sequencing project.)

At ClusterWorld this week, United Devices (http://www.ud.com) will have a new product it calls the Grid-Ready Cluster for Linux. The software product allows operators of Linux clusters to incorporate computing power from non-cluster-dedicated nodes and devices over a WAN, or additional computing power from on-demand computing sources.