Gould Inc’s Computer Systems Division in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has become the second minimaker after DEC to sign up with Cray Research Inc, to market a special high-speed communications link between its own computers and those made by the Chippewa Falls supercomputer maker. The communications link is described as part of a new product that Gould Computer calls the Supercomputer Front-End Processor, which is built around the company’s NPL supermini. Called – take a deep breath – the Universal Input/Output Microengine/High Speed External Interface Adaptor, the link provides point-to-point connection between the NPL System Bus and Cray-2, X-MP and MP EA, and Y-MP Unicos systems. Tests suggest that the adaptor can transfer data, via the Cray HSX channel to the NPL, at 51Mbytes per second sustained and from the NPL to the X-MP at up to 46Mbytes per second sustained, using 256Kb blocks. Forthcoming memory boards with 128-bit data paths should enable the system to improve performance 30% to 90% over that achieved in the tests. Gould says it is working with Cray and customers to define high level software requirements that will enhance applications such as software development, mass storage management, pre- and post-processing, network management and scientific engineering visualisation applications. The new SFE computer system with UIOM/HSX Adaptor is on 90-day delivery and costs $285,000 in standard configuration.
