Extension (and current configuration) of the Biowolfe Cluster

One year after setting up the original cluster more funding became available for the expansion of this configuration. The master was replaced by a four-processor server of the Dell Poweredge family (http://www.dell.ie). The clients were upgraded to 800 MHz Pentium III processors, and ten more clients, with a configuration listed below were added. An additional 16-port 100Mbit switch (Prime PS-1016, approx. £600) was added to connect the new clients to the second network card of the server. Thus, for an additional £32,000, the sum of processor speeds was nearly quadrupled from 5 GHz (2 x 500 MHz + 10 x 400 MHz) to 18.8 GHz (4 x 700 MHz + 20 x 800 MHz).


Table: Parts list for cluster expansion.
parts server client
main-board Dell Matsonic MS7117C
case Dell standard
CPU 4 x PIII Xeon 700 MHz,
512 KB cache 		Intel PIII 800 MHz,
256 KB cache
RAM 4 x 512 MB ECC 256 MB ECC
graphic ATI XPERT, 8MB S3 Trio 4 MB
NIC 3 x Intel EtherExpress 100 Pro Intel EtherExpress 100 Pro
controller RAID -
hard-drive 72 GB RAID system -
floppy standard standard
CD-ROM standard, 40x speed -
mouse PS/2 -
keyboard PS/2 -
monitor Dell 17'' -
cost1 approx. £22,000 approx. £900
1 prices in Irish Punt, dating from December 2000 (1 £= 1.26974 Euro)


The following photo shows the 20 diskless clients, the Dell server (dark box) and the two switches above it.


Noise and heat emission with this configuration reaches quite a high level. Therefore the room was shut off from the main lab and was also fitted with air-conditioning.

Move on to the setup page.


Last modified at $Date: 2001/11/16 16:37:46 $
Contact: khokamp@sfu.ca.