ACADEMIA

Penguin Computing announced the BladeRunner 4130 and 4140 Linux blade servers, 64-bit versions of the industry’s densest Linux blade server. The new AMD Opteron HE processor-based BladeRunner 4140 supports two single or dual core processors, while the 64-bit Intel Xeon processor-based BladeRunner 4130 adds support for Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T). Both blade servers combine powerful processors with the industry proven, ultra-dense BladeRunner configuration for cost-effective datacenters and cluster applications. The BladeRunner product line is extraordinarily dense and features 12 dual processor blades in a 4 unit (U) high chassis, resulting in 3 times the CPU density of a typical 1U server. In addition, BladeRunner features the lowest power consumption and the most Gigabit Ethernet ports (48) of any major vendor’s blade server. Low voltage/high efficiency processors are also included, for truly cost-effective computational power in a very small, easily scalable footprint. The new 4140 and 4130 servers extend Penguin’s industry-proven BladeRunner product line and expand the Company’s 64-bit Linux server offerings. Both new BladeRunners also offer ‘Cluster in a Box’ configurations with Scyld Beowulf Linux Clustering Software already installed for quick and easy cluster installation. The single-point management architecture of Scyld Beowulf results in an easy to use cluster, ideal for entry-level and departmental high performance computing (HPC) clustering applications. “Whether they are consolidating their own datacenters, or they want to get the most cost-effective solutions possible for their co-located facility or cluster, our customers want to pack as much computing power into as small a space as they can without having to use additional, extremely costly power to run and cool the rack,” said Bill Cook, senior vice president of sales and services of Penguin Computing. “BladeRunner is the ideal solution for any cost-sensitive organization looking for easy-to-use, very small footprint, scalable servers. That density and efficiency coupled with the tool-less design and remote management features make these new 64-bit blades an extremely compelling new addition to our product spectrum.” BladeRunner’s unsurpassed density provides 2.4 times as many servers and 50% more gigaflops for 10% less power compared to a typical 42U rack configuration*. In addition to superior density, BladeRunner has a low starting price of $8,994 for three blades. It also scales effortlessly, from a single server blade to over a hundred networked servers in a single rack, by connecting the integrated network switches. BladeRunner also makes managing and servicing racks easier, faster and less costly in both time and money. It has integrated remote management software, including lights-out management for remote power-down and reset of systems that can run in either active or standby mode. It also offers a tool-less maintenance design, including a field-replaceable midplane, with front panel LEDs, hardware component monitoring and control as well as multiple redundant systems, from fans to automatic active-standby mode, for system reliability. Each blade has up to 8 Gigabits of PC3200 RAM and integrated KVM or optional KVM/IP for independent switched access. BladeRunner also integrates onboard SATA hard drive or diskless operation and offers a PMC/XMC expansion slot so that it can be tailored to specific application needs. The new blade servers are fully compatible with the industry proven 32-bit BladeRunner 4120 released in 2004.