ClusterVision, specialist in high performance compute, storage and database clusters, has been selected by CASPUR (Inter-University Super-Computing Consortium in Rome) as supplier of its new supercomputer. The supercomputer will dramatically increase compute power available to CASPUR's users for research in areas such as Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Finance, Fluid-Dynamics, NanoScience and Physics.

The High Performance Compute (HPC) cluster will be equipped with 512 AMD Opteron™ "Barcelona" CPUs equal to 2048 cores which provide a total compute capacity of more than 17 TeraFLOPs. The compute nodes of the cluster will be interconnected by an InfiniBand DDR network and will have more than 4.5 TeraBytes of total memory. The cluster will run the ClusterVisionOS™, ClusterVision's Linux-based cluster software distribution which provides an integrated software environment for the effective use and management of the system. The supercomputer will be one of the fastest of its kind in Europe and would feature on today's TOP100 of fastest supercomputers in the world (see top500.org).

Dr Carlo Maria Serio, Head of the HPC department at CASPUR, said: "Today's research requires, in several disciplines, even more compute power in a well-balanced network of easy-to-use facilities and valuable competences. The ClusterVision HPC cluster will be a very important asset to improve such a network in CASPUR's renewed strategy for HPC. ClusterVision has offered us a very good solution in terms of technical quality, services and price/performance, and their references in the European HPC arena are relevant."

"We are very proud that CASPUR as one of Italy's most prestigious HPC consortia has selected ClusterVision to supply its central supercomputer. We hope that this project will be the start of a fruitful and long-term collaboration between CASPUR and ClusterVision," commented Dr Matthijs van Leeuwen, Sales Director and co-founder of ClusterVision.

"CASPUR's choice for ClusterVision marks a major milestone in ClusterVision's presence in the Italian HPC market. Italy is a very important growth market for ClusterVision and CASPUR is a key customer in this market. I look forward to working with CASPUR to make this project a success," commented Roberto Ratti, Manager Italy for ClusterVision.

"We are pleased that our new quad-core technology will empower such a renowned supercomputer consortium as CASPUR in Italy," said Marco Piattelli, Director Enterprise Business Development AMD Europe. "We believe that the quad-core AMD Opteron processor-based solution will provide the right level of performance and scalability to meet the consortium's diverse application requirements."

About CASPUR

Established in 1992, CASPUR is a non-profit inter-university supercomputing consortium based in Rome. Its main goals are to promote HPC inside Research and University and to provide researchers with valuable HPC facility and support. As Center of Excellence, CASPUR also promotes innovation in Universities, Government, Enterprises and Territory through advanced ICT solutions. CASPUR runs joint projects in partnership with major Italian and international research institutions http://www.caspur.it

About ClusterVision

ClusterVision is specialist in the design, implementation and support of small- and large-scale computer clusters. Their clustering technology provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional supercomputers by connecting multiple computers to form a unified powerful computing system. ClusterVision's team of experts has designed and built some of the largest and most complex computational, storage and database clusters in Europe. With a background in applied scientific research and practical experience with a wide range of HPC technologies, the team understands customers' requirements and provides tailor-made solutions. ClusterVision has offices in Amsterdam, Gloucester (UK), Munich, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Oslo and Madrid.

For more information: http://www.clustervision.com