Press Release

SGI Joins NASA Ames, Carnegie Mellon-Led Consortium to Eliminate Computer Failures

By SpaceRef Editor
December 11, 2000
Filed under ,

SGI today
announced that it has joined with NASA Ames Research Center, Carnegie Mellon
University and 11 other major information technology companies to help
eliminate failures in computing systems that are critical to human safety and
the welfare of society.

SGI and 11 companies have signed a ground-breaking High Dependability
Computing Consortium (HDCC) memorandum of understanding with Carnegie Mellon
University and NASA Ames Research Center.
The mission of the new consortium
is to make computing more dependable in such critical areas as air traffic
control, space exploration, Internet communication and health care.

“SGI is proud to be a part of a consortium of academia, industry and
government to develop the future of high-dependability computing, using NASA
test beds to evaluate emerging concepts,” said Anthony Robbins, president, SGI
Federal.

NASA Ames is home to a 512-processor SGI(TM) 2800 system called Lomax
— the largest single-system image in existence today — that has helped NASA
Ames scientists to make monumental achievements in such technology research
areas as computational fluid dynamics, global climate modeling and
computational astrobiology.
SGI and NASA Ames are pushing the boundaries of
high-performance computing with plans to build a 1,024-processor SGI(TM)
Origin(TM) 3000 series system based on the revolutionary SGI(TM) NUMAflex(TM)
modular technology.

Details of the new consortium will be announced today during a news
conference at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
The news
conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. (PST) in the Moffett Training and
Conference Center, Building 3.
During the news conference, officials from
NASA, Carnegie Mellon University and industry will be available to discuss the
significance of dependable computing.

Reporters are invited to join press-conference participants and attendees
for lunch following the news conference.
Reporters unable to attend the
conference in person may also participate via a two-way telephone hook-up by
calling 650-604-3396.
The line will be activated at 10:15 a.m. (PST).

To reach NASA Ames, take the Moffett Field exit off U.S. 101 and drive
east to the Main Gate, Moffett Field.
News media must present valid press
credentials and/or photo identification at the Visitor Badging Office, Main
Gate, Moffett Field, in order to gain entry.
Maps to Building 3 will be
available at the Main Gate.

About Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University, a leading American university founded in the
20th century and now in its centennial year, has rapidly evolved into a
nationally recognized institution with world-class educational and research
programs in computer science, robotics, engineering, the sciences, business
management, public policy and the fine and liberal arts.

About NASA Ames Research Center

NASA Ames Research Center, located in the heart of California’s Silicon
Valley, is NASA’s Center of Excellence for Information Technology. Ames leads
the agency’s efforts in supercomputing, simulation, human factors and
rotorcraft research.
The center also has key roles and missions in aerospace
operation systems and astrobiology.

About SGI

SGI provides a broad range of high-performance computing and advanced
graphics solutions that enable customers to understand and conquer their
toughest computing problems.
Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with
offices worldwide, the company is located on the Web at www.sgi.com.

NOTE:
SGI, the SGI logo, NUMAflex and Origin are trademarks of Silicon
Graphics, Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of
their respective owners.

SpaceRef staff editor.