An article at ZDNet provides an update on IBM's “Blue Gene” project, an attempt to create the world's first petaflop-level supercomputer (one quadrillion calculations per second) using some 64,000-plus embedded processors. For now, the super-computer is being simulated on a giant Linux cluster.

The article provides an insight into one reason why IBM has been such a staunch Linux supporter. A Linux application written for, say, a mid-range system can be made to run on a mainframe running Linux with little effort, providing a clear hardware upgrade path. Porting applications between IBM's various inhouse UNIXs that run on its various hardware levels turns out to be more work, according to the article.

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In other Blue Gene related news, The Economist recently reported that the embedded processors for the Blue Gene project are being manufactured currently.

See also our earlier report about the world's largest embedded Linux device.

 
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