OIL & GAS

PathScale, developer of innovative software and hardware solutions to accelerate the performance and efficiency of Linux clusters, has optimized its industry-leading EKOPath Compiler Suite and InfiniPath low-latency interconnect to provide enhanced support for the new Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors. AMD's revolutionary Direct Connect Architecture with two cores on the same die along with memory and HyperTransport technology I/O, enables superior performance per dollar and performance per watt for 32- and 64-bit x86 applications. In close collaboration with AMD's engineers, PathScale has optimized version 2.1 of the EKOPath Compiler Suite specifically for Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors. These improvements include code generator performance tuning for OpenMP applications and significantly improved compilation times, enabling AMD and its system partners to produce unprecedented performance benchmark results on dual-core systems, such as the recent SPEC benchmarks submitted by HP and AMD using PathScale compilers exclusively to optimize their Linux results. "Working closely with PathScale and other technology partners, AMD has set new performance standards for x86-based 64-bit computing," said Pat Patla, director, server/workstation marketing, Microprocessor Business Unit, Computation Products Group, AMD. "AMD dual-core technology is a natural extension of AMD64's innovative Direct Connect Architecture. PathScale's EKOPath compilers and InfiniPath interconnect products allow users to deploy Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor-based systems for maximum application performance and greater user productivity." "Any organization that plans to develop Linux applications to run on AMD Opteron processors can count on PathScale's hardware and software solutions to achieve the highest possible performance," said Art Goldberg, COO of PathScale. "PathScale has focused its development efforts to capitalize on the capabilities of dual-core processor systems. EKOPath compilers help generate the highest-performing applications on dual-core processors and the InfiniPath low-latency interconnect uniquely exploits dual-core processors to allow systems to scale more efficiently and more cost effectively than other interconnect alternatives." PathScale's innovative InfiniPath HTX Adapter for Infiniband was designed specifically with Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors in mind. InfiniPath is the industry's lowest latency Linux cluster interconnect, delivering SMP-class performance to commodity-priced Linux clusters while leveraging important standards such as HyperTransport technology, InfiniBand, MPICH and AMD64 Direct Connect Architecture. InfiniPath is the only cluster interconnect that implements a HyperTransport technology-based tunnel architecture to better accommodate two and four socket servers. This is essential for servers designed with multiple dual-core processors, since the number of available HyperTransport technology interfaces in these systems may be limited. InfiniPath is also unique with nine virtual ports per chip for user applications implemented directly in hardware, meaning that each InfiniPath adapter efficiently supports up to eight CPUs with one additional port for the Linux operating system. Other interconnects do not implement this capability in hardware which can lead to performance scalability issues. Availability Version 2.1 of the PathScale EKOPath Compiler Suite can be ordered through leading Linux cluster solution providers in North America, Europe and Asia participating in the PathScale FastPath reseller program described at www.pathscale.com/authorized_resellers.html. A 30-day free trial of the PathScale EKOPath Compiler Suite is available at www.pathscale.com/trial.php. The InfiniPath HTX Adapter is planned for availability later this spring. HPC end users can register now for the InfiniPath Early Access Program, which begins in May. For details on this, please visit www.pathscale.com/earlyaccess.html.