RE: Over 4-way systems considered harmful :-)

M. Edward Borasky
2001-12-05T04:23:17Z

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org
> [mailto:linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org]On Behalf Of Todd Underwood
> Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 12:49 PM
> To: M. Edward Borasky
> Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
> Subject: Re: Over 4-way systems considered harmful :-)
>
> folx,
>
> although i agree with the sentiment expressed below, i beg to differ...
>
> the CPlant (http://www.cs.sandia.gov/cplant/) system software (currently
> built on top of Linux 2.2 but it's working now on 2.4 as well) is Open
> Source (GPL). CPlant is built by Sandia National Labs (which could be
> interpreted as "the military guys" is is currently one of the largest
> Linux-based supercomputers in the world. The source for it is publicly
> available and gives some interesting insight to what happens when you try
> to scale beyond the "traditional" 32 or 64 processor cluster.
>
> Additionally, the same systems software is being used in at least one big
> commercial application (for processing genetic information).
>
> my point here is not that building huge SMP machine makes sense
> (obviously, for reasons that have been repeatedly reexplained by others
> including Larry McVoy, it doesn't). my point is just that many parts of
> the national security aparatus are playing well in the Linux kernel
> development space these days and it's foolish to write them off.
>
> todd underwood, vp & cto
> oso grande technologies, inc.
> todd@osogrande.com
>
> "Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve
> neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

Yes ... but ... it is interesting how quickly the priorities and policies of
the National Laboratories can be "re-focused" with the change of the person
residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and "other factors" :-). Been there ...
done that ... got the scars :-). In short: "Moore's Law: good. Amdahl's Law:
bad" :-)
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