Department of Defense Buys 2,200 PS3s to Upgrade Supercomputer (Info for LINUX Junkies)

Gizmodo ^ | Nov 29, 2009 11:18 PM | Rosa Golijan

[fellowgeek]

Apparently the Department of Defense believes that PS3s are a better value when it comes to supercomputers than IBM products specifically designed for the purpose. Granted recent price drops probably didn't hurt in justifying a 2,200 console order either.

This isn't the first time that the DoD is using PS3 consoles for supercomputing. In fact, these 2,200 units are going to be added to an existing Linux cluster of 336 PS3s used by the United States Air Force.

[fellowgeek]

"Tech Ping!"

I think the quote has some interesting information: "With respect to cell processors, a single 1U server configured with two 3.2GHz cell processors can cost up to $8K while two Sony PS3s cost approximately $600. Though a single 3.2 GHz cell processor can deliver over 200 GFLOPS, whereas the Sony PS3 configuration delivers approximately 150 GFLOPS, the approximately tenfold cost difference per GFLOP makes the Sony PS3 the only viable technology for HPC applications."

I heard that there is a company that sells PS3s with LINUX preloaded.

[Red Badger]

Will they be playing Call of Duty 4?............ONLINE!!!!..........

[Izzy Dunne]

That's what they'd LIKE you to think.

Need I remind you that it's almost Christmas?

They're going to wrap them up and put them under Christmas trees all over Washington, D.C.

[fellowgeek]

During their scheduled breaks, of course!

[omega4179]

Is this to run SAGE?

[snowsislander]

It's not hard to install Yellow Dog Linux on a PS3. Here's a PDF that walks you through the process.

[wysiwyg]

I heard that there is a company that sells PS3s with LINUX preloaded.

Yellow Dog Linux was available preloaded on a PS3, but the company, FixStars, was sold and I don't think the solution is being offered any longer. And, the new "slim" PS3 doesn't support Linux. I figure that Sony doesn't really want PS3 clusters to be set up because they lose money on the hardware which is subsidized by the sales of game software.

[109ACS]

Is this to run SAGE?

Most people here are scratching their heads over that one.
(303x2 Aircraft Control and Warning RADAR 1972-76)

[Nashvegas]

I remember reading before the Iraq war, a rumor that Iraqi families were buying PS2s and sending them home to Iraq. The believe was Sadam was using the PS2s as a home built super computer to help their weapons program.

[OldMissileer]

Is this to run SAGE?

Sounds about par for their course.

After the Missile Wing was decommissioned at Grand forks they tore down the SAGE building, which was the Wing HQ.

[luckybogey]

interesting. i assume you know that ibm produces the chip for the PS3 and will also for the new PS4?

http://fgnonline.webs.com/

[tophat9000]

The new PS3’s (PS3 Slim) will not run linux or any other alt OS ... Sony removed that... but here’s hoping for a hack

[omega4179]

Semi Automatic Ground Environment.