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July 2014 |
We have discovered a project called Cudafy.Net which enables Microsoft C# programmers to access GPU and CPU for parallel computing using CUDA or OpenCL API. This article is a description of our discovery in 2014-06.
o The website hosting this project is https://cudafy.codeplex.com/. The website states “CUDAfy.NET allows easy development of high performance GPGPU applications completely from the Microsoft.NET framework and it is developed in C#.” It follows the CUDA programming model but does not require the C# programmer to possess deep understanding of CUDA. Its latest version is 1.26 and supports Nvidia CUDA6.0.
o Dr Radu Nicolescu of University of Auckland has confirmed that changing an enumerator for the target GPU in the C# source program from CUDA to OpenCL would produce code for OpenCL environment. That is, the same C# applications written for CUDA can be made easily to run in AMD GPU and AMD/Intel CPU under OpenCL.
o An evangelist John Hauck posted his experience as early as April 2013 on the Codeplex website. To run CUDA software on CUDA hardware obviously requires the CUDA toolkit from Nvidia (https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-downloads ). To run OpenCL on the GPU, the drivers of the GPU cards only would be required. To run OpenCL on Intel CPU will need an Intel SDK: http://software.intel.com/en-us/vcsource/tools/opencl-sdk. To CUDAfy C# applications, obtain this DLL: http://cudafy.codeplex.com/ . For development, use Visual Studio 2010 or 2012. The above information revealed a major difference between CUDAfy C# to CUDA and OpenCL. The Cudafied CUDA rendition needs C++ compiler with CUDA at runtime but Cudafied OpenCL does not need further compilation. Obviously CUDA performance would be substantially above OpenCL in this situation.
o Support of OpenCL was official on 5 May 2013 in version 1.22. Another website http://hybriddsp.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/portable CUDA said CUDAfy is applicable to Linux as well, 32 or 64bits, and even Altera FPGA. OpenCL libraries are required. Mono Linux is required.
Under the Hood
o We believed that C# is being developed as a functional language which is capable of embedding Domain Specific Languages (DSL). DSL is a special purpose language designed to encapsulate possible computations in a specific domain. Embedded means embedded in a host language. An Embedded DSL in a host language has its own look, feel, and semantics customised to a specific problem domain. There are 2 types of Embedded DSL- shallow and deep. Shallow DSL is a function computing on values and return the computed value as the result. Deep DSL provides the result of a computation not as a value but as a structure that can be used to compute a value or cross-compiled before being evaluated (that is, generating another program). We can write an EDSL with expressions which extract a tree of what to do and not a direct result.
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July 2014 |
The points below were taken from Compucon Quality Management Manual QMII 01/10/03. All team members subscribe to these BELIEFS and new employees go through an induction process that includes an expression of agreement or disagreement to these points. The list was constructed by team members initially and maintained as a team effort.
RESPONSIBILITY & INTEGRITY
• Participate -- say what you believe
• Work to know who will do what and by when
• Do what you say you're going to do
• Take initiative!
RESPECT
• Actively listen and acknowledge other’s viewpoint
• Recognize the value of other’s job
- Ask for other’s help understanding that they have their priorities
• Sensitive to other’s culture
• Be friendly and thoughtful to all
TEAMWORK
• Recognize others' contributions and successes
• Cooperate with fellow staff members and support them
• Support joint decisions and strategic objectives
CREATIVITY
• Encourage thinking "outside the box"
• Encourage discussion around points of disagreement or uncertainty
• Challenge the status quo
• Envision possibilities
• Allow yourself to experiment constructively
Proof-reader Sharron 2014-07-16
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July 2014 |
Compucon CPD Seminar
13 August 2014 Wed
Compucon House Albany
4:00-4:30pm Citizen Scientists (TN)
4:30-5:00pm Heavy Data Systems (Edmond)
5:00-6:00pm Building Server with RAID & SSD (Neil Cameron)
6:00-7:30pm Wine and Cheese
-- Citizen Scientists --
We refer to a major effort to create a high performance computing ecosystem in New Zealand and the use of web forums as the media for members to collaborate for the creation of the ecosystem. The web forums went live in mid-July 2014 with 3 technology forums (hardware, software, and algorithms) and a general forum. By the time of this August seminar, the forums would have attained a certain shape and make the "why, what and how to participate" matters more explicit. We will single out a few developments for discussions in this seminar.
-- Heavy Data Systems --
Heavy Data Systems refer to a class of computing systems that are capable of dealing with heavy computation and large storage tasks than the standard range of desktop and server systems. 2U4 is an example of having multiple (4) computing nodes in a single (2U) chassis. 1UD12 is an example of having 12 standard 3.5" HDD in a single (1U) chassis. Platinum QX is new and is an example of having 24 Xeon cores in one node. These systems are at the high end of the computing hardware landscape. We will single out a few of them for discussion to equip our peers with this level and range of solutions for addressing customer requirements.
-- Building Flexible Servers with RAID and SSDs --
Neil Cameron (PMC Storage Advisor based in Sydney) will discuss how to use the new flexible features of maxCachePlus, Hybrid RAID and maxCache to build servers that meet a high level of performance and capacity needs without breaking the budget. As we have known for a few years, Neil is a knowledgeable and effective teacher. Come along for an insightful look at caching, tiering and intelligent use of SSDs in today’s server systems.
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July 2014 |
This article reviews the depth of involvement in Industrial PC by Compucon since 1992 up to June 2014. In brief, IPC did not exist as a technology or product portfolio within Compucon but IPC did exist as a business concept and several Compucon system models qualified as IPC. This review is a pre-requisite for Compucon to do IPC better as from July 2014.
Compucon System Models
- We have the Onyx series with a basic version (Commercial) for basic applications and the second version (Multimedia) for more sophisticated applications. The Onyx Commercial has an Atom CPU and the Onyx Multimedia has Pentium G3220 or a higher model with 1150 pins. Onyx is a small form factor chassis with a volume of 6.7 litres. It is about half the size of the slim chassis (12.2 litres) for Diamond and Jasper introduced in 2013 and one third of the size of the “well beloved” chassis that lasted from 2001 to 2013 for Diamond and Jasper. Onyx has 2 choices of mounting methods: feet for standing upright, and brackets for affixing to the wall or a structure. The chassis can take one 3.5” HDD or up to three SSD’s and one half-height, half-length low-profile PCIe x1 card. Maximum power supply is rated 150W.
- We have a Short1U series with a basic version and a server version. Both versions have an Atom CPU. The chassis has a depth of less than 10” in a standard 1U form factor with an interval volume of 4.7 litres. It is smaller than many drawers underneath our desk. The chassis can take up to two 3.5” HDD or SSD. One low-profile PCIe x16 (in X4) card can be added for basic and one low-profile PCI card can be added for server. Maximum power supply is rated 200W.
Are they Popular?
- They have not been popular but they are not sour at all irrespective of the presence of various other choices on the market. Compucon attempted to reduce the size of Onyx to about 3 litres in collaboration with a computer maker in Taiwan under our project codenamed Black Pearl. We spent 2 years on prototyping and eventually gave up due to marginal thermal stability. One of our peers had informed us that a small PC of a well known brand would shut down after 4 hours due to overheat. We have since concluded that Onyx is about the smallest we can attain with expansion capabilities for operating on a 24/7 basis.
- Onyx is not sour because some channel peers use them as commercial PCs and a couple deploy them in medical clinics which have a highly controlled environment. The lack of popularity of the Onyx and the Short1U is due to the perception that they are an average PC whereas in fact they can be deployed as an industrial PC which is more valuable than an average PC. All Compucon models satisfy the criteria for IPC being small sized, low powered, and stable in the production lifecycle (Onyx Multimedia may have a shorter production lifecycle). Short1U being rack mounted is more rugged than Onyx.
Attempts to enter IPC
- Panel PC is small, low powered, stable in production, and rugged. It is similar to a laptop whereas Onyx is similar to a desktop and Short1U is similar to a server. Since we do not deal with laptops, we do not deal with Panel PCs.
- Whilst we developed our current model of wireless bricks (WAP5015D5) in 2009, we looked into Digital Signage which used wireless to link a display panel with a central digital signage server to control the content and timing of advertisements. We had the hardware ready but did not go ahead due to the lack of expressed interest from our channel peers.
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July 2014 |
This article reviews the depth of involvement in Industrial PC by Compucon since 1992 up to June 2014. In brief, IPC did not exist as a technology or product portfolio within Compucon but IPC did exist as a business concept and several Compucon system models qualified as IPC. This review is a pre-requisite for Compucon to do IPC better as from July 2014.
Compucon System Models
- We have the Onyx series with a basic version (Commercial) for basic applications and the second version (Multimedia) for more sophisticated applications. The Onyx Commercial has an Atom CPU and the Onyx Multimedia has Pentium G3220 or a higher model with 1150 pins. Onyx is a small form factor chassis with a volume of 6.7 litres. It is about half the size of the slim chassis (12.2 litres) for Diamond and Jasper introduced in 2013 and one third of the size of the “well beloved” chassis that lasted from 2001 to 2013 for Diamond and Jasper. Onyx has 2 choices of mounting methods: feet for standing upright, and brackets for affixing to the wall or a structure. The chassis can take one 3.5” HDD or up to three SSD’s and one half-height, half-length low-profile PCIe x1 card. Maximum power supply is rated 150W.
- We have a Short1U series with a basic version and a server version. Both versions have an Atom CPU. The chassis has a depth of less than 10” in a standard 1U form factor with an interval volume of 4.7 litres. It is smaller than many drawers underneath our desk. The chassis can take up to two 3.5” HDD or SSD. One low-profile PCIe x16 (in X4) card can be added for basic and one low-profile PCI card can be added for server. Maximum power supply is rated 200W.
Are they Popular?
- They have not been popular but they are not sour at all irrespective of the presence of various other choices on the market. Compucon attempted to reduce the size of Onyx to about 3 litres in collaboration with a computer maker in Taiwan under our project codenamed Black Pearl. We spent 2 years on prototyping and eventually gave up due to marginal thermal stability. One of our peers had informed us that a small PC of a well known brand would shut down after 4 hours due to overheat. We have since concluded that Onyx is about the smallest we can attain with expansion capabilities for operating on a 24/7 basis.
- Onyx is not sour because some channel peers use them as commercial PCs and a couple deploy them in medical clinics which have a highly controlled environment. The lack of popularity of the Onyx and the Short1U is due to the perception that they are an average PC whereas in fact they can be deployed as an industrial PC which is more valuable than an average PC. All Compucon models satisfy the criteria for IPC being small sized, low powered, and stable in the production lifecycle (Onyx Multimedia may have a shorter production lifecycle). Short1U being rack mounted is more rugged than Onyx.
Attempts to enter IPC
- Panel PC is small, low powered, stable in production, and rugged. It is similar to a laptop whereas Onyx is similar to a desktop and Short1U is similar to a server. Since we do not deal with laptops, we do not deal with Panel PCs.
- Whilst we developed our current model of wireless bricks (WAP5015D5) in 2009, we looked into Digital Signage which used wireless to link a display panel with a central digital signage server to control the content and timing of advertisements. We had the hardware ready but did not go ahead due to the lack of expressed interest from our channel peers.
END
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