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IBM System: Blue Gene Solution

  
Blue Gene At a Glance
Attribute Description Benefit
Processor PowerPC 440 700 MHz; two per node Low power allows dense packaging; better processor-memory balance
Memory per node 512MB SDRAM-DDR (Model 0203-700)
1 GB SDRAM-DDR (Model 0203-900)
Networks 1) 3D Torus - 175 MB/sec in each direction
2) Collective Network-350 MB/sec; 1.5 µsec latency
3) Global Barrier/Interrupt
4) Gigabit Ethernet (I/O & connectivity)
5) Control (system boot, debug, monitoring)
Special networks speed up internode communications; designed for MPI programming constructs; improve systems management
Computer nodes Dual processor; 1024 per rack Double FPU improves performance
I/O nodes Dual processor; 16-128 per rack Facilitates job launch and I/O, raising efficiency of compute nodes
Operating Systems Compute Node—Lightweight proprietary kernel
I/O Node—Embedded Linux
Front End and Service Nodes—SUSE SLES 9 Linux
Kernel tailored to processor design; industry-standard distribution on front-end and service nodes preserves familiarity to end users and administrators
Performance Peak performance per rack—5.73 teraflops
Linpack performance per rack—4.71 teraflops
Highest available performance
benefits capability customers
Power 27.6 kW power consumption per rack (maximum)
7 kW power consumption per rack (idle)
208 VAC 3-phase; 100 amp service per rack
Low power draw enables dense packaging
Cooling Air conditioning 8 tons/rack (minimum)
2800 CFM (compute rack); 350 CFM (power supplies)
Low cooling requirements enable extreme scale-up
Acoustics 9.0 LwAD and 8.7 LwAm
Dimensions
(include air duct)
Height—77"
Width—36"
Depth—36"
Weight—1810 lbs
Service clearances—30" front and back
Raised floor height—16" minimum
Design allows dense floor plan layout for better floor space utilization

 
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