Re: new backend computer?

[Tim Gorringe <gorringe@pa.uky.edu>]

Hi David,
I've talked with Peter about this. The backend was obviously a bottle-neck
and so faster event builing and data logging is important. Before purchase
I think that Volodya  is planning to figure the optimal configuration
for logging, etc  (he observed larger differences between tb02 and tb05) in
rate  capability. I think this issue also ties with our problems with 
daq crashes.
Cheers, Tim.

to figure the optimal configuration
David Webber wrote:

> Hi Tim and Volodya,
>
> Would a faster backend machine be a good investment?  MuCap is 
> considering purchasing a new machine for analysis that would be four 
> times faster than their Cheetah, and we could buy a similar machine 
> and share both (MuCap would get both for their run, in exchange for us 
> getting both for our run).  In your opinion, would upgrading the 
> backend significantly improve our livetime?
>
> Thanks,
> David
>
>
>
> >peter wrote:
>
> >FYI
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 18:06:15 -0800
> From: Frederick Gray <fegray@berkeley.edu>
> To: kammel@npl.uiuc.edu
> Subject: online analysis computers
>
> Dear Peter,
>
> During run 9, we were able to process online approximately 20% of the
> incoming data, using a single processor on cheetah.  I would propose 
> that it
> may be very useful to have full real-time reconstruction capability
> available for run 9A.
>
> The processors in cheetah are Opteron 242s.  From the benchmark
> information that I have seen on the Web, it seems that the Opteron 270 is
> about twice as fast.  Using both processors of a dual-processor machine,
> we would gain a factor of about 4 over cheetah.  To be safe, I propose
> purchasing two such machines, which would give us a factor of 8.   
> Each machine
> costs about $3400, so we're looking at a total of $7000.
>
> As you know, Berkeley's equipment budget is $0.  Do you think there is a
> possibility that any of us have this kind of funding available?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- Fred
>
> -- Fred Gray / Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher                 --
> -- Department of Physics / University of California, Berkeley   --
> -- fegray@berkeley.edu / phone 510-642-2438 / fax 510-642-9811  --