The IBM Intelligent Cluster was a cluster solution for x86-based

high-performance computing High-performance computing (HPC) uses supercomputers and computer clusters to solve advanced computation problems. Overview HPC integrates systems administration (including network and security knowledge) and parallel programming into a mult ...

composed primarily of IBM ( System x,

BladeCenter The IBM BladeCenter was IBM's blade server architecture, until it was replaced by Flex System in 2012. The x86 division was later sold to Lenovo in 2014. History Introduced in 2002, based on engineering work started in 1999, the IBM eSe ...

and System Storage) components, integrated with network switches from various vendors and optional high-performance

InfiniBand InfiniBand (IB) is a computer networking communications standard used in high-performance computing that features very high throughput and very low latency. It is used for data interconnect both among and within computers. InfiniBand is also use ...

interconnects.

History

The solution was formerly known as the IBM

eServer IBM eServer was a family of computer servers from IBM. Announced in 2000, it combined the various IBM server brands (AS/400, Netfinity, RS/6000, S/390) under one brand. The various sub-brands were at the same time rebranded from: *IBM RS/6000 to ...

Cluster 1300 (or e1300) based on then-current

Pentium III The Pentium III (marketed as Intel Pentium III Processor, informally PIII or P3) brand refers to Intel's 32-bit x86 desktop and mobile CPUs based on the sixth-generation P6 microarchitecture introduced on February 28, 1999. The brand's initial ...

processors, which was introduced in November 2001. This was replaced by the e1350 in October 2002 with the introduction of Pentium 4-based Intel

Xeon Xeon ( ) is a brand of x86 microprocessors designed, manufactured, and marketed by Intel, targeted at the non-consumer workstation, server, and embedded system markets. It was introduced in June 1998. Xeon processors are based on the same a ...

processors. Later (in 2008-2009) solution also was known as the IBM System Cluster 1350; in 2010 released line with final IBM Intelligent Cluster name. Roughly twice a year the solution components were updated to include the then-current products from IBM and other vendors. In 2014 this cluster solution was sold and rebranded as Lenovo Intelligent Cluster.

Architecture

The Intelligent Cluster system is a (integrated, factory-built and tested)

rack Rack or racks may refer to: Storage and installation * Amp rack, short for amplifier rack, a piece of furniture in which amplifiers are mounted * Bicycle rack, a frame for storing bicycles when not in use * Bustle rack, a type of storage bi ...

tower-size cluster solution with comprehensive warranty service for all components, including third-party options. The system could comprise traditional rack-optimized nodes, as well as IBM

Flex System Flex or FLEX may refer to: Computing * Flex (language), developed by Alan Kay * FLEX (operating system), a single-tasking operating system for the Motorola 6800 * FlexOS, an operating system developed by Digital Research * FLEX (protocol), a com ...

iDataPlex System x is a line of x86 servers produced by IBM – and later by Lenovo – as a sub-brand of IBM's ''System'' brand, alongside IBM Power Systems, IBM System z and IBM System Storage. In addition, IBM System x was the main component of the ...

blade nodes, or another rack-mounted servers with processor choices between x86-based (Intel Xeon and AMD Opteron) or uncommon

Power Power most often refers to: * Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work" ** Engine power, the power put out by an engine ** Electric power * Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events ** Abusive power Power may a ...

-based processors options (only for blade servers), along with integrated storage and switches to provide a turnkey Linux or Microsoft cluster environment. These platform also supports the water-cooling module options (Heat Exchange Doors) for some rack towers designs. Operating system choices were officially limited to Enterprise Linux distributions from Red Hat and SUSE and to

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...

Windows HPC Server 2008 Windows HPC Server 2008, released by Microsoft on 22 September 2008, is the successor product to Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. Like WCCS, Windows HPC Server 2008 is designed for high-end applications that require high performance computing ...

. For systems management IBM offered

xCAT xCAT (Extreme Cloud Administration Toolkit) is open-source distributed computing management software developed by IBM, used for the deployment and administration of Linux or AIX based clusters. Toolkit xCAT can: * Create and manage disk ...

. Additional software, such as

GPFS GPFS (General Parallel File System, brand name IBM Spectrum Scale) is high-performance clustered file system software developed by IBM. It can be deployed in shared-disk or shared-nothing distributed parallel modes, or a combination of these. It ...

and LoadLeveler, could also be ordered from IBM.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Intelligent Cluster IBM supercomputer platforms Cluster computing

History

Architecture

See also

References