Linux Networx, SGI Federal team for Linux cluster at Lawrence Livermore

LINUXWORLD EXPO BOOTH #1079, SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28, 2001 — SGI Federal, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of SGI (NYSE: SGI), the leading provider of high-performance computing
and visualization solutions for technical and creative users, has teamed up with
Linux cluster computing expert Linux NetworX to win a bid to build three Parallel
Capacity Resource (PCR) Linux cluster computing systems totaling 472 Pentium
4 processors for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Accelerated Strategic
Computing Initiative (ASCI) ongoing computing element. With a theoretical peak
performance of 857 gigaFLOP/s, the largest of the three systems with 252 Pentium
4 processors, named PCR P4A, will be one the fastest Linux clusters ever built.

Linux clustering, an alternative to traditional supercomputing, is a method of 
linking multiple computers together to form a unified and very powerful system. 
By taking advantage of standard computer components, Linux clusters can match 
the performance of supercomputers for a fraction of the cost. 

In its latest effort to boost parallel capacity computing power for ASCI's ongoing 
computing element, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) will have two 
of the three Linux clusters working on the project, while a third will be used 
as a joint development cluster with Linux NetworX and SGI Federal for open source 
projects.

"The clustering expertise and management tools delivered by Linux NetworX along 
with SGI Federal's project management background and support infrastructure created 
a very powerful and cost-effective solution to meet our requirements," said Dr. 
Mark Seager, LLNL's Asst. Dept. Head for TeraScale Systems. "As LLNL continues 
to add to parallel capacity resources cluster management becomes a more critical 
issue, which is why we required the ICE Boxä management tool from Linux NetworX." 

ASCI is a ten-year program to reach 100-trillion calculations per second by 2005 
that will enable scientists at the national-security laboratory to maintain the 
safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile by simulating - in three 
dimensions - the aging and operation of nuclear weapons.
"SGI's experience in delivering high-performance computing solutions has played 
an important role over the years in supporting DOE's ASCI Program to ensure the 
continued safety, reliability and performance of America's nuclear stockpile," 
said Randy Stefano, vice president, professional services, SGI. "Partnered with 
Linux NetworX and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we are set to embark 
on another great engineering milestone by helping to build one of the world's 
fastest Linux clusters while demonstrating the benefits of open-source Linux 
for affordable high-performance computing."      

Linux NetworX designed and built the world's first commercial Linux cluster in 
1997, and has developed cluster management tools to make systems easier to manage. 
In the request for proposal, LLNL required a specific Linux NetworX cluster management 
tool, called ICE Boxä, which is being previewed for the first time at LinuxWorld 
Expo booth #1079. 

"We're excited to be teaming up with SGI Federal to deliver this high-powered 
Linux cluster to ASCI's ongoing computing element at LLNL," said Glen Lowry, 
Linux NetworX President and CEO. "Empowering cluster management tools are proving 
to be an important factor in the wider adoption of Linux clustering into existing 
and new markets."

As a result of this combined win, SGI Federal and Linux NetworX established a 
joint vendor relationship where the two companies will team up to win large cluster 
bids requiring the expertise and cluster management tools of Linux NetworX, and 
the support resources of SGI Federal. 
For specific system details, visit www.linuxnetworx.com.


About Linux NetworX

Linux NetworX (www.linuxnetworx.com) brings its powerful and easy-to-manage cluster 
technology to those demanding high performance and high availability systems. 
Linux NetworX provides solutions for organizations involved in oil and gas exploration, 
aeronautical and chemical modeling, biotechnology research, graphics rendering 
and visual effects, Web serving, ISPs, ASPs, and other technological research 
fields. Through its innovative Evolocity hardware, ICE cluster management tools 
and professional service and support, Linux NetworX provides end-to-end clustering 
solutions. To date, the company has built some of the largest cluster systems 
in the world, and boasts numerous Fortune 500 customers.

About SGI

SGI, also known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is a technology solutions provider 
with a broad range of high-performance computing, advanced graphics and consulting 
services that enable its technical and creative customers to maintain a competitive 
advantage in their core businesses. Whether being used to design and build safer 
cars and airplanes, discover new medications and oil reserves, help us understand 
and better predict the weather, or entertain us with thrilling movie special 
effects, SGI? systems and expertise are empowering a world of innovation and 
discovery. The company, which is located on the Web at www.sgi.com, is headquartered 
in Mountain View, Calif., and has offices worldwide.

Linux Cluster Overview:

Each node within the cluster contains QsNet ELAN3 by Quadrics Supercomputer World, 
2 GB of RDRAM memory per node, 81 GB Disk Space. OSCAR V1.1 and ClusterWorX and 
ICE Box will also be used to help LLNL manage and maintain the clusters. Below 
is the breakdown of the three Linux cluster system specs.

PCR (Parallel Computing Resource) P4A
· 126 dual nodes with 252 Pentium 4 Xeon processors with 1.7 GHz
· OSCAR V1.1 and ClusterWorX from Linux NetworX management software
· ICE Box intelligent hardware management tool from Linux NetworX

Second System: PCR P4B Production Cluster
· 86 dual nodes with 172 Pentium 4 Xeon processors with 1.7 GHz
· OSCAR V1.1 and ClusterWorX from Linux NetworX management software
· ICE Box intelligent hardware management tool from Linux NetworX

Third System: PCR Development Cluster
*This cluster will be used for joint development of open source projects between 
Linux NetworX, LLNL, and SGI FEDERAL (specifically Parallel File System, and 
LinuxBIOS)
· 24 dual nodes with 48 Pentium 4 Xeon processors with 1.7 GHz
· OSCAR V1.1 and ClusterWorX from Linux NetworX management software
· ICE Box intelligent hardware management tool from Linux NetworX

# # #

SGI and the SGI logo are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Intel is a registered 
trademark of Intel Corporation. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. 
All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. 
 
Contact:
Brad Rutledge           
Linux NetworX           
801-562-1010 ext. 218

mobile 801-652-4120