DIY Supercomputers with Multiprocessor Mix

Old/new cameras: resources, cpu, card, electronics

DIY SUPER COMPUTERS WITH MULTI-PROCESSOR MIX

The world can be a fast changing place with new ideas born every day. While most people are able to embrace societies new technology, others cannot. In the history of computing, which has seen radical changes over the years, it's the very people in the field that are either innovators and welcome change, or entities of a resistive force which die out or fade away.

Here at the Lab, we like to think there's at least a small part of science innovation and the offering of new approaches and ideas with combined fields of science. One new idea involves supercomputers. Generally a supercomputer is created by taking a bunch of computers of one type, and multiplying its number to create a cluster. This plurality of many computer machines computing in parallel makes a powerful combination.

The Lab is working on supercomputers of a different type. We've discovered that it's possible to connect together many computers and processors of varying types. One may do supercomputing with a mix of highly specific chip boards, different types of CPUs, different types of computers, and a mix of supporting hardware and resources.

In home supercomputing, you use what you can get at a reasonable cost. Home supercomputing projects simply don't have millions of dollars to cash up on expensive arrays. So we collect the parts available, perhaps on closeout, good deals, yesterday's models, used equipment, unusual equipment like the guts of cameras, or great finds from anywhere and anyplace offering lots of CPUs and resources.

This mix may include PCs, Macs, Linux boxes, game machines, GPUs, assorted boards, DIY machines, cameras, or raw chips from assorted companies like Parallax, Parallella, Green Machines, and other multicore chips from various manufacturers. For example, take a look at what you can do with old computers. It's now possible to turn these outdated computers into more processors.

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2013/07/convert-old-computers-into-processors.html

In another example, proof of the pudding, let's take an inside look at the Big Brain Supercomputer. How many different types of processors does it hold? It appears to hold over thirty different types of CPUs and technology. One development state of Big Braining led to a period of assimilation where other material, machines, chips, components, boards, etc. were consumed and made part of the Big Brain. The following list details some of those varying types of assimilated technology.

Parallax Propeller Chips
AMD GPUs
New Mac Computers
Lenovo Computers
ASUS Computers
VP Processors
Parallax BASIC Stamps
Netbooks
MacBooks
iMacs
iBooks
Video Card Processors (several varieties)
Various Boards (8 varieties)
Cameras
Smart Phones
iPad

In conclusion, it's possible to mix a variety of processors and technology to create supercomputers. This can include computers recycled into more CPUs, and a "what's available" approach to the hardware.

Survivable Multiprocessor Machine

BUILDING A SURVIVABLE MACHINE WITH MULTI PROCESSORS
Can Your Machine Take a Hit and keep on ticking? You know... cosmic ray, project falls to the floor, incoming asteroid, all can upset your precious machine and ruin your day. How can we better ensure the machine will take a hit and bounce right back for more?

At what level can you build a multiprocessor machine which will continue functioning if one or more chips fail? In this blog we will consider some of the ideas required to construct a more reliable machine.

EXPOSED WIRING AND CIRCUITS
Machines with exposed wires and circuit are easily bumped, and oops, a wire is pulled out and the machine no longer functions correctly. Consider when a bump causes a single integrated circuit to dislodge. Another oops. After the machine is built and fully functioning, cover it with microwavable Seran Wrap or a housing containment.

EARTHQUAKE AVOIDANCE
It's almost impossible to avoid earthquakes in some regions of the world unless you move to calmer continents. Unknown to many people, an earthquake often has a rapid vibration effect that can remove paint from walls and ceilings. This high speed oscillatory motion can also effect electronic components and circuits. Pad electronics to absorb oscillations.

SPECIFIC INTERFACE WIRING
The machine with wiring that can continue to function when one or more ICs drop out, is very desirable. To accomplish this, special wiring is required so that the loss of one chip will not hang the interface.

AUTO CHIP REPLACEMENT
Both wiring and software must work together to accomplish the Auto Chip Replacement method, where some unused chips are standing by, ready to fill in for failed chips.

DIAGNOSTICS
On the fly diag is highly useful to determine the stats of each chip. This can be run at power up, mid range, and power down. The trick is to find a test algorithm that functions very effectively and very quickly. Remember, the time required to run the test is multiplied by the number of chips and the number of cores. For a 100 chip machine, this equals 800 cores. If the test requires one minute per core, the test will finish in 800 minutes or 13.3 hours later.