Posted on 11/23/2005 7:03:10 PM PST by Halfmanhalfamazing
The Beowulf software runs over Myrinet hardware,they are not the same yet you again try to hide this in your defense of the Chicoms getting it for free.
They did it because the Chinese government didn't trust closed American software. I don't blame them, I wouldn't trust closed Chinese software either. You never know what closed source software has in it -- back doors, calling home, etc.
The answer to this distrust is, of course, open source software. That's one reason why the military doesn't have a problem using security tools developed by a Russian hacker -- they can look all through the source.
Still haven't figured it out yet, have you?
Who cares, that still doesn't mean what was written in the US should be going to Iran for free any more than our uranium, which we also don't exclusively control, should be going to them either. Your points are all incredibly weak and subjective. Do you even live in the US? All of your life? Just trying to figure out where you picked up this one world mentality of yours.
You just don't get it. Beowulf isn't software, it's a concept. The Beowulf concept is using free software to tie together a bunch of off-the-shelf components yourself cheaply in order to make a parallel supercomputer. The Chinese military doesn't need that, as was shown in the case of China's new fastest supercomputer, which was a fairly custom job made with vendor help.
As far as specific software, it began with a couple of pieces of software written at NASA, but has grown far beyond that, so that the NASA software itself doesn't need to be used -- there's far better out there.
And some of that software is foreign-made.
But you can't build a very good supercomputer with standard off-the-shelf parts. You need high-speed interconnects like Myrinet, otherwise the system will perform at a fraction of its potential. If you want to limit supercomputing, limit the hardware.
Always "for free." So the traitor who betrays his country for pay is more honorable than the one who does it out of ideology?
Just trying to figure out where you picked up this one world mentality of yours.
I have progressed out of the 80s. I realize that the digital world is completely interconnected, resulting in no effective borders. I realize there is expertise outside of this country that can be useful to us. I also realize that in order to gain the results of that expertise, we have to reciprocate. I realize that the state of the art of software and supercomputing would be far behind where it is now were it not for the free exchange of ideas and code.
So when are you going to stop using this evil software?
Beowulf clustering was invented at NASA then for some idiotic reason was given away for free and now drives the supercomputers of countries who have nuclear missles pointed at us. Your attempts at reducing the impact of what has happened is despicable.
Using the foreign-born free operating system you hate so much, Linux. So you would have deprived NASA and many of our universities of supercomputing power out of your paranoia? NASA benefitted from the work of others, including foreigners, and NASA reciprocated as they should.
Your attempts at reducing the impact of what has happened is despicable.
Your attempts at demonizing code and the scientific process is despicable, and the idea would set us back years.
So when are you going to stop using such traitorous software?
Quit hiding from the truth and answer the question - aren't you biased because you don't live in the US anymore, or didn't for many years? You've been overseas getting indoctrinated i.e. brainwashed by a bunch of socialists that believe we should all just share everything in the name of humankind, and not care that some of those humans might use it to blow some of us up oneday. Am I wrong? I do believe I recall you admitting such one day previously, in an attempt to convince me how much better it was outside the US.
You quite hiding and answer the question: When are you going to stop using this software that is so damaging to our national security?
aren't you biased because you don't live in the US anymore, or didn't for many years? .. do believe I recall you admitting such one day previously,
Your memory still works, good. Should have kept reading.
I spent years in Europe both in and supporting the United States Army, during the Cold War and after. Got anything to say about that? I also spent some time in a war in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, fighting for your fucking freedom. Got anything to say about that time spent overseas?
Don't piss off a soldier. Next thing you know you'll be trying to question the patriotism of the ex-Marines here, and really get your ass kicked, kiddo.
Nasa invented it, so they OBVIOUSLY wouldn't be deprived. And just because some of our universities might qualify for access, why do you equate their access to that of the Chicom government? You apparently want the Chinese to have immediate access to anything anyone in America has access to, which is ridiculous coming from anyone other than an advocate of the Chinese. But of course this impacts a lot more than just the Chinese, you apparently want ANYONE to have full and complete access.
As I told you, they came up with the idea and wrote the initial software. It's far beyond that now, Beowulfs using none of the NASA software, far more advanced than NASA could have taken it alone. It would have deprived everybody because clusters would be years behind where they are now.
You apparently want the Chinese
Why are the Chinese so special to you? Did you have a Chinese nanny who whipped your wittle bottom?
So you're not supporting the Army anymore, but are still living abroad, based on what you refused to answer. And you're not doing a very good job of protecting our interests anymore either.
Hey you can get pissed at me all you want, but it will only be for my attempts at protecting the US and not giving our intellectual property away to those most likely to use it against us, and someone who works to this day for the DoD.
Nope, wrong again. Still working for the Army, but back in the US.
I'm not a whiny type, which is why I haven't called the moderator on you those many times you deserved it. Question my patriotism again and I will. I have only so much tolerance for your personal attacks.
and someone who works to this day for the DoD.
From what I've read, it doesn't seem likely. Your ignorance of certain things is telling. If you do work for the military, it's probably some low GS clerical job, or maybe you work for a DPW contractor.
Now answer my question, when are you going to stop using this traitorous software?
You can whine to the moderator if you want, but I still find it troubling that you supposedly work for the US Army but spend all day advocating free software for US adversaries.
And no, Nasa did not require free operating systems to design Beowulf, it is simply what they chose. Obviously an ignorant decision on their part, that has resulted in widespread supercomputer proliferation across the globe.
Working 20 years and counting, unlike you. I advocate free software where it is an advantage. It is an advantage to us, obviously, as exemplified by Beowulf. That others get it is a consequence of getting that advantage. The only thing you care about is certain others getting it. Sorry GE, but reciprocity goes both ways.
And if our government writes some great, ultra-sensitive code based on open source, all it has to do is not release it. But it gets the advantage of not having to develop the base software.
It is up to the author whether to decide to release his code. If you say he can't, then you do not respect "intellectual property" rights as much as you claim to.
Nasa did not require free operating systems to design Beowulf,
NASA required free software because they had to be able to extensively modify the kernel to suit their needs. You can't do that with closed-source. The ability to modify ("Freedom to Tinker") is the greatest aspect of open source. You don't have to hope Microsoft gives you what you want, you simply make it happen yourself.
That is one reason why Microsoft is barely seen in supercomputing and Linux is prevalent, that Microsoft has one system way down on the Top 500, and Linux systems with the same architecture get much more computational power per processor/GHz.
Systems located in America are three fifths of the supercomputers in the world. The vast majority of those run Linux, and constitute almost all Linux supercomputers worldwide. This is a higher percentage of dominance than before Linux came on the supercomputing scene.
Just think, that wouldn't be as rosy for us if it were not for free software.
BTW, remember how a Beowulf is self-made? Self-made systems, only have five spots on the Top 500, and four of those are Apple XServe clusters in the US.
It's neither good nor bad, it just is. Of course it's bad news to someone with his head so far up BillG's ass he can lick his tonsils.
So you prefer Hugo Chavez to Bill Gates. Go ahead, but you're going to have to make one hell of a case.
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