high physical density cluster design

[JParker at coinstar.com]

G'Day !

True ... but they spend alot of time and effort on the problem.  I used to know
this guy who ran CFD code for Intel to analyize heat transfer within computer
cases.

Kinda catch-22 ... you need a cluster to run the CFD code needed to build a
cluster  ;-)

cheers,
Jim Parker

Sailboat racing is not a matter of life and death ....  It is far more important
than that !!!


                                                                                                                                       
                    Joel Jaeggli                                                                                                       
                    <joelja at darkwing.uo        To:     pbn2au <pbn2au at qwest.net>                                                       
                    regon.edu>                 cc:     <beowulf at beowulf.org>                                                           
                    Sent by:                   Subject:     Re: high physical density cluster design                                   
                    beowulf-admin at beowu                                                                                                
                    lf.org                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                       
                    03/12/01 11:54 AM                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                       



On Sun, 11 Mar 2001, pbn2au wrote:

> >
> > Problem 2 - Heat Dissipation
> > """"""""""""""""""""""""""""
> > The other problem we're going to have is heat. We're going to need to build
> > our cabinet such that its relatively sealed, except at front, so we can get
> > some coherent airflow in between boards. I am thinking we're going to need
to
> > mount extra fans on the back (this is going to make the 2x2 design a bit
more
> > tricky, but at only 64 odd machines we can go with 2x1 config instead, 2
> > stacks of 32, just 16U high). I dont know what you can suggest here, its all
> > going to depend on physical configuration. The machine is housed in a proper
> > environment (Datavaults.com's facilities, where I work :) thats climate
> > controlled, but the inside of the cabinet will still need massive airflow,
> > even with the room at 68F.
>
>     For this much heat, I am not sure that you should not rethink this
> whole Idea. Some suggestions( not tongue in cheek) : Have you
> considered a refrigeration unit? Put it in a walk-in freezer and go
> from there. Another option will be to build a sealed water tight box

router vendors have boxes that need to dissapate in excess of 5Kw in one
42u box... These are air cooled...

> and encase the boards in chilled mineral oil. The conductivity of the
> oil is legendary, and nonexistent. use a small unit to chill one end,
> and a couple of stirring units to keep it circulating.

liquid cooling is typically used only as a last resort by hardware
vendors when the individual components need to have more heat dissapated
than the thermal conductivity of air will allow.

> The biggest
> issue is not heat within the unit but the effect on other units in the
> same room.

no matter what you have to exhaust the heat from the room.

>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org
> To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit
http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
>

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joel Jaeggli
joelja at darkwing.uoregon.edu
Academic User Services
consult at gladstone.uoregon.edu
     PGP Key Fingerprint: 1DE9 8FCA 51FB 4195 B42A 9C32 A30D 121E
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is clear that the arm of criticism cannot replace the criticism of
arms.  Karl Marx -- Introduction to the critique of Hegel's Philosophy of
the right, 1843.



_______________________________________________
Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org
To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit
http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf