1. SSH to rakitu.cnz.local port 22 (with Putty)
2. Login as root
3. Password is our server password (newer version)
4. cd /var/spool/imap/user/<user mailbox>
5. ls -la to view files
6. more <filename> to read contents
7. cp <filename> /tmp/ to make a copy of it
8. telnet localhost 110
9. user <mailbox name>
10. pass <mailbox password>
11. list
12. dele <index number of email>
13. quit
14. exit

END

The 2 CPU models named in the title above were chosen because the first one is the base CPU for Compucon Workgroup Server SX-E3 and the second one is for SX-E5. Therefore this article explains how to choose SX-E3 or SX-E5 for our business customer's applications.

Back in 2012, this part of the Technology Park discussed the differences between E5-2600 (which Compucon Platinum DX servers used) and E5-2400 (which other brands of servers used for pricing appeal).  In brief, 2400 is the junior counterpart of 2600.  However, E3-1200 and E5-2600 seem to be miles apart and why did Compucon choose these 2 Xeon options for Workgroup Server?

Indeed, there are E5-1600 for single socket and E5-2400 dual socket junior in between.  Since WGS SX-E5 is still based on single socket Xeon, why did Compucon settle on a high end dual socket capable E5-2600 Xeon?

Please see this short description of the different features between the chosen Xeons.

WGS-E3 (Xeon E3-1220v3): 4 cores/4 threads, 8MB L3 cache, 4 slots for DDR3 memory on the motherboard, dual channel memory transfer, 20 PCIe lane controller within the CPU.

WGS-E5 (Xeon E5-2620v3): 6 cores/12 threads, 15MB L3 cache, 8 slots for DDR4 memory on the motherboard, quad channel memory transfer, 28 PCIe lane controller within the CPU, and more PCIe slots on the motherboard.  Note that some higher E5-2600 CPU models provide 40 PCIe lanes. 

We can see that the differences are quite obvious and these 2 WGS models are not really in the same league.  We offer meaningful choices to our customers.  Fitness for Purpose.  Cost of Ownership. 

The 2 CPU models named in the title above were chosen because the first one is the base CPU for Compucon Workgroup Server SX-E3 and the second one is for SX-E5. Therefore this article explains how to choose SX-E3 or SX-E5 for our business customer's applications.

Back in 2012, this part of the Technology Park discussed the differences between E5-2600 (which Compucon Platinum DX servers used) and E5-2400 (which other brands of servers used for pricing appeal).  In brief, 2400 is the junior counterpart of 2600.  However, E3-1200 and E5-2600 seem to be miles apart and why did Compucon choose these 2 Xeon options for Workgroup Server?

Indeed, there are E5-1600 for single socket and E5-2400 dual socket junior in between.  Since WGS SX-E5 is still based on single socket Xeon, why did Compucon settle on a high end dual socket capable E5-2600 Xeon?

Please see this short description of the different features between the chosen Xeons.

WGS-E3 (Xeon E3-1220v3): 4 cores/4 threads, 8MB L3 cache, 4 slots for DDR3 memory on the motherboard, dual channel memory transfer, 20 PCIe lane controller within the CPU.

WGS-E5 (Xeon E5-2620v3): 6 cores/12 threads, 15MB L3 cache, 8 slots for DDR4 memory on the motherboard, quad channel memory transfer, 28 PCIe lane controller within the CPU, and more PCIe slots on the motherboard.  Note that some higher E5-2600 CPU models provide 40 PCIe lanes. 

We can see that the differences are quite obvious and these 2 WGS models are not really in the same league.  We offer meaningful choices to our customers.  Fitness for Purpose.  Cost of Ownership. 

Things changed when we were informed of the admittance of Compucon into the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project as an official collaborator in October 2013.  We have used various ways to express our feelings and plans such as diving into the deep sea to work on the bulk of the iceberg or climbing to the extreme height of Mt Everest. 

Compucon underwent a restructuring process in 2015-03 to define which members will operate Compucon 1 and who will go into Compucon II exploration teams.  Compucon 1 is the original Compucon responsible for making and supporting highly reliable desktop and server computing systems.  Compucon II is a new team exploring the depths and the extreme heights.  We have not looked back and have been pleased about this move.

SKA involves 12 countries around the world including England, Canada, South Africa, India, Italy, Netherlands, China, Australia, and New Zealand.  This group is designing and will build new telescopes that are the most powerful for mankind to learn about the universe and where we came from for the next 50 years.  The telescopes are radio based (as against optical) employing a digital computing Interferometry technique to produce visualisation of the universe.  This technique enables many small dishes, scattered over a large area to perform like a single big dish, as big as the entire area in simple layman terms.  To achieve this effect, high performance computing is needed.

Initial investigations revealed that COTS (commercial off the shelf) computing technologies were not good enough.  They failed badly in 2 aspects: they could not handle the large amount of signals collected from the heavens and they could not survive in deserts where there was minimal electricity supply.  Further investigations have revealed several potential technology candidates and the rest is confidential at this point in time.

The direct involvement of Compucon in SKA investigations prompted us to look at spinning off the expertise gained to areas outside of SKA on the condition that this act does not compromise the interest of all parties in SKA.  We started a High Performance Computing Citizen Scientist community in July 2014 (www.compucon.co.nz/forum) to bounce ideas around on the front, whilst the Compucon II team continues to work very hard in the backroom. 

We have been holding seminars to report what we have achieved so far, and we welcome members of the public to join our community or the exploration teams.



Proof-reader Sharron 2015-05-13