Beowulf cluster man becomes a Penguin
Published: 10 Jun 2003 12:44 BST
Penguin Computing, a server maker specialising in machines running Linux, has signed an agreement to acquire Scyld Computing, the company founded by a pioneer of "Beowulf" Linux supercomputers.
Scyld was founded by Donald Becker, who will become Penguin's chief technology officer under the deal. In 1994, while working at NASA, Becker helped to pioneer the Beowulf method of linking numerous comparatively inexpensive Linux computers into a larger system. Becker also has been a key programmer writing network software for the Linux operating system.
Both companies have ample competition from larger server makers such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Dell, but both have managed to survive in a gruelling server market. Scyld creates management software that can be used to set up and run Beowulf clusters.
In recent years, "Beowulf clusters" have caught on as a way to assemble supercomputers out of interconnected inexpensive Linux servers.
Terms of the all-stock transaction weren't disclosed, but the two companies don't expect to lay off any staff, a representative said. The combined company will have about 35 employees, still under the leadership of founder and chief executive Sam Ockman at the company's San Francisco headquarters.
Although the company will continue to sell Penguin's existing server line, "we have recognised that our corporate customers are very interested in Beowulf clusters and high-performance computing," the company said in a statement.
Scyld will continue to operate out of its Maryland, offices and will maintain its brand name.
Scyld investors include Red Hat cofounder Bob Young; Penguin investors include ING Capital and Dragon Venture.
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