API Technology Helps NASA Astrobiology Institute to Research Origin of Life
Collaboration with Geophysical Laboratory of Carnegie Institution and Department of Terrestrial Magnetism leads to development of Carnegie Alpha Cluster
Alpha Processor, Inc., (API) a developer of high-performance
Linux solutions, today announced its next-generation, high-bandwidth
technology solutions are being utilized in researching the origin of
life, an initiative of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI), a
virtual organization comprising NASA centers, universities and others
dedicated to studying the origin, evolution, distribution and destiny
of life in the universe. A powerful, scalable solution, the Carnegie
Alpha Cluster is being used to help discover facts about the formation
and evolution of planetary systems capable of supporting life.
The Carnegie Alpha Cluster, an Alpha Linux Beowulf cluster based
on API’s UP2000 Ultimate Series Motherboard, is enabling NASA and its
research partners, the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie
Institution of Washington and the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism
(DTM), to conduct complex studies and computations aimed at providing
new clues for understanding planet and star formation, how life began,
its possible existence elsewhere in the universe and projecting the
future of life on the Earth and beyond.
“This research involves complex computations, and API’s
high-performance solution for floating point intensive, memory
bandwidth hungry applications was the obvious choice,” said
Dr.Gotthard Saghi-Szabo, senior research scientist at Carnegie’s
Geophysical Laboratory. “Through our relationship with API and Puget
Sound Data Systems, we expect this technology to help us move to new
heights in the research of astrobiology.”
Collaborating with one of the top providers of Alpha systems, API
has delivered eight of the expected 50 dual processors that make up
the Carnegie cluster. A fully configured, turn-key solution was
delivered based on the UP2000, the price/performance choice for
development of Linux-based Beowulf clusters. (With speeds of 667MHz
and beyond and 2, 4, or 8MB cache per processor, the dual-processor
capable motherboard supports API’s Alpha Slot B technology.)
“We understood that the Geophysical Laboratory and DTM needed a
high-performance Linux solution that could handle the heavy
computation,” said David Monroe, VP of sales at Puget Sound Data
Systems, Inc., an API partner. “Through our relationship with API and
their ability to provide the HPTC market with one of the fastest
microprocessors for work with floating point intensive calculations,
we were able to cost-efficiently supply the best solution to meet the
project’s strict criteria.”
“Alpha Linux is the ideal technology for the HPTC market and our
solid, reliable high-performance Alpha Linux technology has enabled
exciting breakthroughs in the research community,” said Jeff
Borkowski, vice president of sales and marketing for API. “The unique
collaboration with NASA, the Geophysical Laboratory and DTM further
strengthens our commitment to provide the expanding HPTC marketplace
with high-performance, high-bandwidth solutions.”
About Alpha Processor
Alpha Processor, Inc., (API), located in Concord, Massachusetts,
is dedicated to the development of Alpha chipsets and high-performance
Linux technologies for the Internet network infrastructure and HPTC
markets. Addressing the demand for increased memory and I/O bandwidths
to power the rapidly expanding Internet and HPTC applications, API’s
products are ideal for today’s compute-intensive and high throughput
demands. Its industry-recognized design team is committed to working
with leading companies, IHVs and ISVs to deliver resellers, OEMs, VARs
and customers with the highest performance, scalable systems
available. For additional information on its products, the company or
for the sales contact nearest you, please consult API’s web site at
www.alpha-processor.com.
Contact:
Alpha Processor, Inc.
Bruce Bradshaw, 978/318-1185
bruce.bradshaw@alpha-processor.com
or
LNS Communications, Inc.
Katy Brennan/Kathryn Donovan, 617/577-9777
