Modular computing: how does it 'work'?

[Elledan]

When looking at this nice system (especially the technical details), I can't help but wonder how this is accomplished.

How can all of these 'bricks' work together? What connects them? How can all of these CPU's (max. 512 with the SGI Origin 3800) share all of the memory? What enables these systems to scale so easily?
And which architectures can be used for something like this? What are the requirements?

Ah, and on a sidenote, does anyone here know how much the SGI Origin 3200 costs? 😉

 

[Evadman]

I woulda ssume it would be a beowulf cluster, but not 100% sure.


<< Ah, and on a sidenote, does anyone here know how much the SGI Origin 3200 costs? >>



More than your house probably. 🙂

 

[Elledan]

<< I woulda ssume it would be a beowulf cluster, but not 100% sure. >>

Well, it uses a form of clustering alright, but probably far more advanced than Beowulf. It can share memory among all of the CPU's, and all CPU's can use every single I/O-'brick', which turns a collection of individual 'bricks' into a single (SMP) system.

I really would like to learn some more about how it is done 🙂


<<

<< Ah, and on a sidenote, does anyone here know how much the SGI Origin 3200 costs? >>



More than your house probably. 🙂 >>

You think? I've a pretty big house, you know 😉

 

[Elledan]

So... I guess no one really knows?

 

[J.Zorg]

Well, i don´t really know but you might wanna take a look at their datasheet

 

[Elledan]

<< Well, i don´t really know but you might wanna take a look at their datasheet >>

Thank you 🙂 I think I missed that paper when browsing the site.