AlphaServer SC45 supercomputer: facts and figures

		
An AlphaServer SC45 system is an integrated combination of

  * One or more Compute Building Blocks
  * An Interconnect Building Block
  * One or more Storage Building Blocks 

In addition to the main system components, this page also describes

  * Configuration Options
  * Warranty
  * Service and Support
  * AlphaServer SC System Software
  * AlphaServer SC Development Software

	  	*sc45.jpg*

Compute building block

Consists of up to 5 customized AlphaServer ES45 servers, each of which
include

  * 1 to 4 Alpha EV68 1.25 GHz processors with 16 MB cache per processor
    or
    1 to 4 Alpha EV68 1.0 GHz processors with 8 MB cache per processor
  * 2 to 32 GB of ECC 133 MHz, industry-standard DIMM memory
  * 2-port Ultra SCSI storage adapter and disk cage with room for up to
    6 1-inch hot swap drives
  * 10 PCI I/O slots on 4 64-bit PCI buses, delivering a peak bandwidth
    of 1.8 GB/s
  * 1x 1.44 MB diskette drive
  * 1x 600 MB 40x IDE CD-ROM
  * 1 or 2 AlphaServer SC Interconnect PCI adapters, capable of over 280
    MB/s sustained bandwidth per adapter
  * Tru64 UNIX V5.1a operating system 

Interconnect building block

  * 16-port or 128-port switch chassis at the heart of the AlphaServer
    SC Interconnect from Quadrics Supercomputers World, delivering up to
    500 MB/s per server, with 32 GB/s of cross-section bandwidth and MPI
    application latencies under 5 microseconds
  * Fully integrated console management includes initial DECserver 732
    terminal servers
  * Fully integrated management network including an initial 10/100
    Ethernet switch
  * Complete hardware and software documentation and media 

Storage building block

  * Dual HSG80 RAID controllers with 512 MB cache
  * 2 Fibre Channel host adapters
  * Choice of 18 GB or 36 GB disk drives
  * 2 or 3 split-bus shelf configurations, which can accommodate up to
    42 disk drives
  * HSG80 RAID controller software
  * Advanced File System utilities software 

Configuration options

  * 4 to 1024 AlphaServer ES45 servers in standard configurations;
    larger configurations for special projects
  * 1 to 4 EV68 1 GHz or 1.25 GHz processors per AlphaServer ES45 server
  * 2 to 32 GB of memory per server
  * 8 and 16-port Fibre Channel switches
  * 18 GB or 36 GB Ultra3 SCSI disk drives
  * Up to 2.1 TB of storage per compute building block
  * Up to 4.5 TB of storage per I/O rack
  * Network connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, 10/100 Ethernet, OC-3 ATM,
    or HIPPI 

Note: A qualified subset of AlphaServer options is available for the
AlphaServer SC45. For a complete list, visit the AlphaServer supported
options section.

Warranty

  * 1-year on-site, 9-hour x 5-day warranty with next-business-day response
  * Optional service plans for up to 24x7, 2-hour, same-day response
    time are available, as well as a complete portfolio of worldwide
    service offerings to maximize the uptime of your critical system
    environment 

Service and support

  * The AlphaServer SC includes staging, integration, and installation
    of the interconnect building block, compute building block(s), and
    storage building block(s). Ninety days of consultant-level, outside
    support is recommended to help address the planning and introduction
    of the AlphaServer SC into the user environment (a full range of
    training courses is available at additional charge)

  * Optional integration and installation is available for quotation on
    options not included in the interconnect, compute, or storage
    building blocks

  * Optional custom site planning, custom freight arrangements, VIS
    engineering team on-site installation of AlphaServer SC, and
    tailored customer configuration documentation are also available for
    quotation 

AlphaServer SC system software

AlphaServer SC system software V2.5 is included and provides utilities
and libraries necessary for the operation and management of the
AlphaServer SC45. AlphaServer SC Development Software is a highly
recommended option, which includes Compaq Fortran, C++, and the
Developer's Toolkit for each node (details).

Key AlphaServer SC system software components include:

  * Tru64 UNIX 5.1a with Java
  * SCFS and Cluster File System
  * Parallel File System
  * Device request dispatcher
  * Cluster alias
  * Transparent NFS failover
  * Resource Management System
      o Job launch, access, management, and administration
      o Partition management
      o Job execution
      o Gang scheduling 
  * LSF batch management system
      o Batch job launch
      o Queue management and reporting
      o Policy-driven scheduling 
  * System-wide management utilities
      o SysMan menu
      o SysMan station
      o SRA automated system installation
      o Hardware error monitoring, diagnostics, remediation 
  * Performance monitoring and analysis
  * MPI library for parallel application development
  * Shmem library for parallel application development
  * Support for DCE/DFS 

AlphaServer SC development software

AlphaServer SC development software V1.0 is a highly recommended option.
It is a full suite of tools for technical software development and
complements the MPI and Shmem libraries in AlphaServer SC system
software. It includes:

  * Compaq Fortran V5.4a for Tru64 UNIX Alpha systems
  * Compaq C++ V6.3a for Tru64 UNIX
  * Developer's Toolkit for Tru64 UNIX (V5.1)