Star-hpc computational fluid dynamics on hpcLineMunich 30 October 2000 Dr. Roesler from Computational Dynamics discussed first experiences and benchmark results of Star-hpc on the Fujitsu Siemens hpcLine. One year ago, industry was not heavily interested in Linux clusters. Most of the ISVs started a Linux strategy, but today Mr. Roessler ran big benchmarks on Linux clusters for leading companies.
Computational Dynamics, founded in 1987, is no. 2 in CFD with more than 2500 users. Application areas of this software package are: for example external flow, power train, thermal management, passenger compartment, and rotating machinery, chemical engineering - mixing, general heat transfer and fluid structure interaction.
Also the size of the models changed, some years ago 500 000 cells was a very big problem, today it is only medium size. A nuclear power plant problem with 120 million cells is solved on a 128-processor machine in less than 24 hours.
Star-hpc is available on multiprocessor Unix servers, vector computers, cluster of Unix workstations - CAD machines that are idle during the night - and cluster of Linux machines.
The performance of hpcLine with Pentium III, 500 MHz, is nearly comparable with RISC processors. He additionally compared Scampi/SCI and MPICH/Ethernet in a small problem, it was 30 to 80% better than Ethernet. In larger problem he observed 70% performance improvement in Scampi vs MPICH. In small cases Ethernet is appropriate but not with big ones.
Star-hpc on hpcLine is a cost effective solution compared with RISC. Due to the fast development in processor technology, PCs will become more attractive.
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