The IBM Blue Gene/P solution extends the capabilities of the previous Blue Gene systems to drive innovation through leadership in performance, efficiency, and scale. It adheres to the original design goals of density and low power consumption, allowing more computational problems to be explored through greater accessibility and faster time to solution. Customers have deployed Blue Gene systems to make advances in fields like climate research and drug development by managing the challenges of power, cooling, and space through the specialized architecture and networks.

1. Expanding the limits of breakthrough science
IBM® System Blue Gene®/P Solution
The IBM® Blue Gene®/P Solution Blue Gene customers note that
is a follow-on product to the time-to-solution for many
successful Blue Gene/L Solution, applications has been reduced
and adheres to the original key by an order of magnitude.
design points set forth in the Blue Scientists can make new runs
Gene/L Solution. Specifically, the more often allowing them to
Blue Gene family of explore alternative models and
supercomputers has been approaches to problems. Blue
designed to deliver ultrascale Gene is making a demonstrable
performance within a standard change in the way science can
programming environment while be done.
delivering efficiencies in power,
cooling and floor-space Blue Gene/P delivers more than
consumption. Blue Gene/P ultrascalable performance.
Highlights extends the performance through Because of unique design
density and frequency bump, 4-way points that allow dense
Extends the capabilities of the IBM® SMP enhanced functionality, packaging of processors,
Blue Gene® Solution to drive scalability for petaflop memory and interconnects,
performance, and aggressive Blue Gene/P offers leadership
innovation, competitive advantage,
power management for low power efficiency in the areas of power,
and to further enable scientific
consumption first established with cooling, and floor space
breakthroughs
the Blue Gene Solution. consumption.
Positioned for workloads where Many universities and government Available in configurations
technologies cannot be constructed research labs have deployed Blue ranging from one to 72 racks,
to handle the workload Gene for computational studies in Blue Gene/P is the innovative
weapons research, radio new solution from IBM to further
Architecture enables the customer to astronomy, protein folding, climate expand the limits of
efficiently manage power, cooling, research, cosmology, and drug breakthrough science without
and space challenges development. sacrificing efficiency.

2. Attribute Details Benefits © Copyright IBM Corporation 2007
IBM Corporation
Processor IBM® PowerPC® 450 850 per node
PowerPC 440 700MHz; twoMHz; four per node Low power allows dense packaging;
power allows dense packaging; Integrated Marketing Communications
better processormemory balance
- Systems and Technology Group
Route 100
Memory per node 2 GB SDRAM-DDR (Model 0206-850) Wider reach applications Somers, NY 10589
Produced in the United States
June 2007
Networks 1) 3D Torus - 5.1 GB/s; 3.5 usec latency Special networks speed up internode
internode
2) Collective Network - 1.7 GB/s; 2.5 usec communications; designed for MPI
latency programming constructs; improve All Rights Reserved
systems management This publication was developed for products
3) Global Barrier/Interrupt and/or services offered in the United States.
4) Optical 10 GbE (machine control and outside IBM may not offer the products, features or
connectivity services discussed in this publication in other
5) 1 GB Control Network (system boot, debug, countries.
monitoring The information may be subject to change
I/O Nodes Dual processor; 16 -128 per rack
- Facilitates job launch and I/O, raising without notice. Consult your local IBM business
Compute Nodes Double FPU improves nodes
Quad SMP processor; 1024 per rack efficiency of compute performance contact for information on the products, features
and services available in your area.
I/O Nodes (10 GbE) Quad SMP processor; Configurable from 8 to Increases relative I/O performance All statements regarding IBM's future direction
64 per rack. 8 is the default configuration. and intent are subject to change or withdrawal
Compute Node-Lightweight proprietary kernel without notice, and represent goals and
Operating Systems Kernel tailored to processor design; objectives only.
I/O Node-Linux® operating system industry standard distribution IBM, the IBM logo, Blue Gene, and PowerPC
Front End and Service Nodes- SUSE LINUX preserves familiarity to end users are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Performance Peak performance per rack – 5.73 TFlops
SLES 10 Highest available performance
and administrators International Business Machines Corporation in
Linpack performance per rack– 4.71 TFlops benefits capability customers the United States, other countries or both. A full
list of U.S. trademarks owned by IBM may be
Peak performance per rack – 13.9 TFlops Highest available performance found at:
Performance ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml.
benefits capability customers
Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the
Power 40 kW power consumption per rack Low power draw enables United States, other countries, or both.
(maximum) Other company, product and service names
dense packaging
may be trademarks or service marks of others.
Cooling 200-240 VAC 3-phase; 175 (minimum) per rackLow cooling requirements enable
Air conditioning 8 tons/rack amp service
2800 CFM (compute rack); 350 CFM (power extreme scale-up IBM hardware products are manufactured from
Cooling Air conditioning ~13 tons/rack (minimum) Low cooling requirements enable new parts, or new and used parts. In some
supplies)
extreme scale up cases, the hardware product may not be new
8.9 bels and may have been previously installed.
Acoustics
Regardless, IBM warranty terms apply.
Dimensions Height – 1956 Width – 36” - 1220 mm
77” mm; Width Depth – 36” Design allows "brickwall" layout
dense floor plan layout References in this publication to IBM products
(includes air duct) Depth 966 mm;
Weight-– 1810 lbs. Weight- 1720 lbs for better floor space utilization or services do not imply that IBM intends to
Service clearances– 30” front all sides
914 mm and back make them available in all countries in which
Raised floor height– 16” minimum
- 16" minimum. IBM operates.
Photographs show engineering and design
models. Changes may be incorporated in
production models.
For more information: Copying or downloading the images contained
To learn more about the IBM System Blue Gene Solution, please contact your IBM marketing in this document is expressly prohibited without
the written consent of IBM.
representative or visit the following Web site: ibm.com/servers/deepcomputing/bluegene.html