opinions on routers/switches for parallel clusters
Hi Everyone, We are an educational institution looking into building a scientific computing cluster that has 128-256 nodes interconnected by gigE. The outward connection would be the site FDDI ring. The problem is that we want to experiment with the topology as well as the computing part. :) And I am at a loss as to what gigE switch and router we should use. The requirements are: 1. ability to morph the topology at will 2. fast (doh!) 3. Layer 1-4 is required (up to layer 7 would be nice) 4. load balancing Which companies' products do you like? (*Barring* Cisco) [If you cannot state your opinion publicly, please send me a private reply. I appreciate it and will keep it confidential.) I am looking at these companies: Lucent Foundey Networks River Stone Alteon Extreme Networks Ericcson Would the people who have had experience with these products tell me what they feel? Thank you very much. Michael -- +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | keichii@iteration.net | keichii@freebsd.org | | http://iteration.net/~keichii | Yes, BSD is a conspiracy. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+
On Mon, Jun 18, 2001 at 11:15:10AM -0500, keichii@freebsd.org wrote:
3. Layer 1-4 is required (up to layer 7 would be nice)
It may pay to explain exactly what your requirements are. The possible meanings of "Layer 1-4" in this context are limited only by the availability of drugs to the marketing department (which do not seem to be in short supply).
4. load balancing
Ditto. Joe
Having dealt with Lucent I can warn you away from them (as if I need to nowadays). Having dealt with Cabletron I can warn you away from Riverstone. The only company you mention which has consistently provided excellent products and support (and never screwed me around or lied to me) is Cisco. Their stuff is a bit overpriced, but <cliche> you get what you pay for. </cliche> At 11:15 AM 6/18/01 -0500, keichii@freebsd.org wrote:
Hi Everyone,
We are an educational institution looking into building a scientific computing cluster that has 128-256 nodes interconnected by gigE. The outward connection would be the site FDDI ring.
The problem is that we want to experiment with the topology as well as the computing part. :) And I am at a loss as to what gigE switch and router we should use.
The requirements are: 1. ability to morph the topology at will 2. fast (doh!) 3. Layer 1-4 is required (up to layer 7 would be nice) 4. load balancing
Which companies' products do you like? (*Barring* Cisco) [If you cannot state your opinion publicly, please send me a private reply. I appreciate it and will keep it confidential.)
I am looking at these companies: Lucent Foundey Networks River Stone Alteon Extreme Networks Ericcson
Would the people who have had experience with these products tell me what they feel? Thank you very much.
Michael -- +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | keichii@iteration.net | keichii@freebsd.org | | http://iteration.net/~keichii | Yes, BSD is a conspiracy. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+
On Mon, 18 Jun 2001, Albert Meyer wrote:
Having dealt with Lucent I can warn you away from them (as if I need to nowadays). Having dealt with Cabletron I can warn you away from Riverstone. The only company you mention which has consistently provided excellent products and support (and never screwed me around or lied to me) is Cisco. Their stuff is a bit overpriced, but <cliche> you get what you pay for. </cliche>
I've got a pair of ExtremeNetworks BlackDiamond 6808's running my production datacenter installation (2 8 port gig blades, 1 12 port gig blade, and 4 32 port 100TX blades each), and I love them to death. They just work (tm). -j
At 11:15 AM 6/18/01 -0500, keichii@freebsd.org wrote:
Hi Everyone,
We are an educational institution looking into building a scientific computing cluster that has 128-256 nodes interconnected by gigE. The outward connection would be the site FDDI ring.
The problem is that we want to experiment with the topology as well as the computing part. :) And I am at a loss as to what gigE switch and router we should use.
The requirements are: 1. ability to morph the topology at will 2. fast (doh!) 3. Layer 1-4 is required (up to layer 7 would be nice) 4. load balancing
Which companies' products do you like? (*Barring* Cisco) [If you cannot state your opinion publicly, please send me a private reply. I appreciate it and will keep it confidential.)
I am looking at these companies: Lucent Foundey Networks River Stone Alteon Extreme Networks Ericcson
Would the people who have had experience with these products tell me what they feel? Thank you very much.
Michael -- +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | keichii@iteration.net | keichii@freebsd.org | | http://iteration.net/~keichii | Yes, BSD is a conspiracy. | +-----------------------------------------------------------+
-- -Jonathan Disher -Sr. Systems and Network Engineer, Web Operations -Internet Pictures Corporation, Palo Alto, CA -[v] (650) 388-0497 | [p] (877) 446-9311 | [e] jdisher@eng.ipix.com
participants (4)
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Albert Meyer -
Joe Abley -
Jonathan Disher -
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