Hardware Platforms

Do we need new CPUs?

• Network access to old VME processes is probably adequate
• We have enough at RAL for a three crate system; also some dying VICs
• Birmingham has Bit3 connection for a two crate system - but these need special recovery from bus errors
• Do Heidelberg, Mainz or Stockholm need to run more than one crate in the near future for prototype tests?
• Final architecture for ATLAS will probably(?) have a (diskless?) CPU per crate doing the real work, with CPUs connected by a high speed network switch
• Should we test this scheme in our prototype system?

Available single board VME PCs

• VMIC (used by DAQ group).
  • 166MHz Pentium: £2160
  • 333MHz Pentium II: £2737
  • 700MHz Pentium III: £4443
• Concurrent Technologies
  • 333MHz Pentium II: £1873
  • 600MHz Pentium III: £1988
• All with 64Mb, IDE, excluding VAT. Concurrent boards can alternatively host SCSI