Giganet demonstrates new scalable Linux cluster running MPI

The demonstration showcases a ray tracing program typically used in the animation industry to create photo-realistic images of a complex scene. The software in the demonstration is mathematically modeling the light rays as they reflect and refract in the virtual world of the image. This type of environment requires that millions of complex calculations be performed each time the image view is changed. By clustering the Linux systems and running the ray tracing program in parallel, the application realized results eight times faster than if run on a single machine. The high performance of the cLAN interconnect is critical to the speed of the application.

Complex computations, like those done in ray tracing applications, canbe run in parallel to achieve fast, efficient results by combining cLAN with MPI/Pro. The combination of cLAN and MPI/Pro enables the passing of messages between systems with minimal delay. Similar programs, previously run on supercomputers , can now be deployed on Linux-based systems. Other scientific and technical applications, such as finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, experience similar performance increases with MPI/Pro running in parallel on clusters connected with cLAN.

"MPI/Pro interconnected with cLAN streamlines server-to-server communications, providing a scalable, clustered solution that delivers the supercomputing performance required for complex parallel applications," said Anthony Skelljum, President, MPI Software Technology.

"Our cLAN products, designed with native VI implementation, were developed to remove the bottleneck in server-to-server communications, providing the foundation for a new class of cluster area network solutions," said Gareth Taube, Vice President Marketing of Giganet. "We are pleased to be demonstrating our cLAN for Linux products in this Beowulf environment withMPI Software. By interconnecting Linux-based components with cLAN, customers can now scale their networks in ways previously not possible."

The cLAN for Linux products include a host adapter and a cluster switch, as well as supporting software for managing the cluster. Giganet's products set the standard for a new generation of high throughput, ultra-low latency (delay) and low cost interconnects that utilize a minimum of processing resources. The cLAN products enable the scalability of Linux clusters from two to hundreds of endpoints and provide users with continuous availability. Additionally, Giganet offers cLAN for Windows NT, bringing the same levels of performance to applications running on NT as offered in Linux environments.

About MPI Software Technology, Inc. MPI Software Technology, Inc. is the leading independent software vendor of networking technology software and portable user API's commonly called "messaging middleware." MPI Software Technology, headquartered in Starkville, MS and privately held, provides complete support to OEMs in the areas of software specialization for their scalable platforms, in-service staff, customer training, and application consulting. The company also offers end- user products for Windows NT and Linux clusters as well as certain embedded platforms. For more information contact MPI Software Technology at http://www.mpi-softtech.com .