The Virginia Tech MAcintosh Supercomputer Cluster

[Epaminondas]

A recent report on the Virginia Tech Macintosh G5 supercomputer  cluster, contradicting earlier reports:


<< The Mac supercomputer will run Apple's Mac OS X operating system. The team worked closely with Apple and Mellanox Technologies, a vendor of cluster-connection hardware, to develop drivers and port additional software required for the project.

Linux can run on Mac hardware, but given everything else that needed to be done to get the supercomputer up and running, it just seemed easier to stick with the Mac operating system. >>


Neat if true!


Epaminondas

[kelly]

You're taking this well.

[kelly]

Linux vs. Windows Viruses

http://theregister.co.uk/content/56/33226.html

[Epaminondas]

<<  You're taking this well.   >>

'Cause I'm really neated out.


The obvious way for Va Tech to go on this cluster is Linux.  The stuff is all out there, ready to do.  

That's what I'd do.

It's a no-brainer.  

Otherwise, the Va Tech boys are just gonna have to reinvent the wheel.


But the Va Tech boys are going MacOSX.


They are either idiots - or they are not idiots.

And they are not idiots.


I wonder what kinda wheel they are going to invent?

Maybe it'll levitate . . .


This is like watching a movie that takes twists and turns outside the everyday predictable movie formulae.

Say Alan Rudolph's "Choose Me."

It is nice to be surprised for a change.


The creativity involved - and the competition in the cluster supercomputer space - should be good for both Linux and the Mac.

They should invigorate one another.

Much better that just a cluster supercomputer monopoly for Linux.

It'll give Linux something to measure itself against.


And selling 1000+ Macs at a shot - particularly if this catches on -  is not going to hurt Apple too badly, either.  ;-)


Of course, if MacOSX doesn't work in the supercomputing space - Va Tech has a good OS to fall back on.

But at least they will have tried.


Regards,

Epaminondas