Programme on Origin 2000 scales to 128 processors

Eagan, 13 November 97 The Cray Origin2000 supercomputer has run a parallel scalable programme on a 128-processor configuration operating in a single system image (SSI) environment at a NCSA. The high-bandwidth and low latency CrayLink interconnect technology was combined with the scalable IRIXTM operating environment to achieve this result. According to Cray this is a new scalability record for SMP machines.

The scalability breakthrough at the customer site was achieved by enabling a 128-processor Cray Origin2000 supercomputer to operate as a single system on applications run at the US National Center for Supercomputing Applications. A Beta program for the 128-processor CrayOrigin2000 SSI systems is scheduled for the first half of next year, with general availability to follow.

NCSA has installed 512 Origin2000 processors in three configurations. The Origin2000 configurations at NCSA include: One 128-processor system featuring a prototype MetaRouter, CrayLink hardware technology and prototype software that allow the system to scale to 128 processors in a single operating environment, and an array of four 32-processor systems and four 64-processor systems with a HIPPI interconnection.

The prototype 128-processor SSI configuration enables NCSA researchers to address larger-scale and more complex problems, in particular by combining models previously run in isolation. For example, chemical engineers could combine chemical process simulations with interactive engineering design to optimize the operation of a chemical plant. Similarly, environmental scientists could combine atmospheric and surface water flow models to study their interactions over months or days, and at greater levels of detail.

Silicon Graphics and Cray Research also released the volume of 64-processor Origin2000 and CrayOrigin2000 systems, together with the installed base for these high-end systems. The modular cc-NUMA Origin server line provides a building-block approach that scales from one to 128-processor configurations Over 10,000 systems have been sold since its introduction in October 1996. Silicon Graphics/Cray released the 64-processor CrayOrigin2000 systems after a beta testing program in which they partnered with a number of customers.

Customers running CrayOrigin2000 64-processor systems include Boston University, NASA Ames Research Center, Technical University of Dresden and the French Center of Computer Resources of Haute Normandie.

Sandra Wermer