I've been thinking a lot lately about microprocessors, from the many-core CPUs that AMD and Intel introduced recently to the massively scalable GPGPU processing that's taking machine learning by storm. After years of consolidation on commodity x86 CPUs, it seems that the computing paradigm is turning again to specialized offload processors. This trend towards heterogeneous … [Read more...] about Co-Processors, GPGPU, and Heterogeneous Computing
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What is OCuLink?
I'm a storage connectivity nerd, but I often learn new things I missed. Reading about the new Tyan servers with AMD's Epyc server processor, I was surprised by an off-hand mention of "OCuLink" as a storage expansion port. Naturally, I did some digging and discovered what it is: OCuLink is a competitor for Thunderbolt for cabled PCI Express connectivity, offering similar … [Read more...] about What is OCuLink?
Storage is Getting Cloudier!
Cloud storage is nothing new, but we're now starting to see real integration between on-premises enterprise arrays and as-a-service cloud storage solutions. I've recently written two pieces on this subject for Gestalt IT and thought I would direct you, my beloved readers, over there to have a look! Storage in the Cloud First up is NetApp Heads Into Microsoft’s Azure … [Read more...] about Storage is Getting Cloudier!
Where Have All The GPU’s Gone? Cryptocurrency Mining!
Over the last month, high-performance graphics cards have disappeared from retailer stock, selling out immediately as they appear. Although AMD's new RX 580 offers decent graphics performance for the money, gamers aren't driving this demand. Instead, it's all about cryptocurrency mining, with Ethereum leading the way. It's time for AMD to get in on this game, with special … [Read more...] about Where Have All The GPU’s Gone? Cryptocurrency Mining!
Turn Off Error Recovery in RAID Drives: TLER, ERC, and CCTL
Hard disk drives encounter errors from time to time, so it's a good thing that most have the ability to recover data anyway. But RAID systems usually have their own error recovery capabilities and can be thrown off when a hard disk pauses I/O. So it's a good idea to use hard disk drives that allow you to disable or limit error recovery in RAID systems. Error Recovery … [Read more...] about Turn Off Error Recovery in RAID Drives: TLER, ERC, and CCTL