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US Government Upgrades RAM

Deep Throat writes "Techworld has the scoop on a new super-sized RAM disk that the US government has just bought for a few million dollars in order to speed up searching through huge databases. It's 2.5TB! The VP of the company that made it says it is for Washington DC and searching databases but won't say who. Techworld explains why it reckons it's the Department of Homeland Security searching in the NSA and Pentagon databases for terrorists. And apparently the government is 'very happy' with the purchase and thinking about getting more."

20 of 445 comments (clear)

  1. Google by sik0fewl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Still not as fast as if they'd make the info public domain and use google :)

    --
    I remember when legal used to mean lawful, now it means some kind of loophole. - Leo Kessler
  2. Google? by powerpuffgirls · · Score: 5, Funny

    in order to speed up searching through huge database

    Have they consulted Google?

  3. $4.7 million by vasqzr · · Score: 5, Funny

    The list price of the system, which is made up from 40 RamSan 320 units, reviewed here, is $4.7million

    Purchased from Dell's website that would have been....$12.5 million?

    1. Re:$4.7 million by gosand · · Score: 4, Funny
      Purchased from Dell's website that would have been....$12.5 million?

      Yeah, but they would have gotten a free scanner with it!

      --

      My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  4. RAM upgrading by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're upgrading in time for Longhorns release you insensitive clod!

  5. Use the correct post by Shipud · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just hope they rememebr to use the USB2.0 for their new keychain disk; access time might be horrible otherwise...

    --
    /sdrawkcab si gis siht
  6. obligatory Gates quote by Gothmolly · · Score: 4, Funny

    "2.5 TB ought to be enough for anybody."

    Heck, that might even be enough to boot Longhorn!

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    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  7. This is a nice change of pace by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 5, Funny

    After weeks of seeing overblown headlines on slashdot (IE, Bill Gates runs over a squirel on the way to work, headline reads "Bill Gates Murders Animals as part of his Job!!!"), it's good to see one that is, well, underblown. 2.5TB is a bit more than a 'RAM upgrade'

  8. Re:Not for the DHS by GoofyBoy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I would feel less threatened if it was in the hands of the DHS rather than the IRS.

    --
    The surprise isn't how often we make bad choices; the surprise is how seldom they defeat us.
  9. this came... by maxpublic · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...right after their purchases of thousands of those little X10 spy cameras that you can mount just about anywhere! Oops, said too much, gotta go before-------------

    --
    My god carries a hammer. Your god died nailed to a tree. Any questions?
  10. Bleeding Edge by Embedded+Geek · · Score: 5, Funny
    'very happy' with the purchase

    I just hope they didn't get it at Fry's. God help them if they've got to return it.

    --

    "Prepare for the worst - hope for the best."

  11. Re:Lets see by Ummagumma · · Score: 4, Funny

    the 'terrorist bit'? Thats the one right next to the evil bit, right?

    =)

    --
    "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." - Thomas Jefferson
  12. Re:More stats by vidnet · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not even about beowulf clusters? What's the world coming to!

  13. Re:Not for the DHS by BabyDave · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hear that now it can process over nine tax returns per day.

  14. Longhorn developers... by Stevyn · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is what's going through the mind of someone at redmond right now...

    "With that much ram, I won't have to worry about fixing the memory leaks!"

  15. Re:It's awesome and all... by Tenebrious1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    How are they going to save the data if the power goes out? That's a lot of data to store on hard copies.

    Of course, possible power outages were considered before the system was purchased. To prevent the loss of information, they hired 35,000 people to watch console screens and transcribe the data from the screen onto legal pads 24x7.

    --
    -- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
  16. I have one of these. by Mordack · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, I have one of these things too. It really speeds up my builds.

    --
    I don't need no stinkin' sig!
  17. Startup time by jhines · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now checking 2,748,779,069.440 bytes of memory, please wait.....

  18. Re:A Single Disk Hit Kills Responsiveness by NSash · · Score: 4, Funny
    Google has multiple copies of the entire web in memory.

    HOLY SHIT!

  19. Let the humorous SQL queries begin!!! by macshune · · Score: 4, Funny

    SELECT * FROM tblNSA WHERE usLivingIn = "true" AND ethnicity = "arab"

    SELECT * FROM tblCIA WHERE ss = "xxxxxxxxx" AND surname = "Kerry" AND dirt = "true"

    SELECT * FROM tblFBI WHERE student = "true" AND politicalID = "left" ORDER BY antiwar

    UPDATE tblTEXASAF SET duty_fulfilled = "true" WHERE ss = "xxxxxxxx" AND surname = "Bush"