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Linux For Cell Processor Workstation

Posted by timothy on from the interesting-things-on-the-horizon dept.

News for nerds writes "The Cell processor from Sony, Toshiba and IBM, has been known as the chip that powers the upcoming PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, but except for that very little is known about how it's applied to a real use. This time, at LinuxTag 2005 from 22nd to 25rd June 2005, at Messe- und Kongresszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, Arnd Bergmann of IBM will speak about the Cell Processor programming model under Linux, and the Linux kernel in the first Cell Processor-based workstation computer, which premieres at Linuxtag 2005."

2 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The Linux role in hardware design by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 5, Insightful
    how it has given chip/platform makers a specific, generic target OS that they can use freely to get something useful running on their hardware quickly

    Perhaps because it is a Unix work-alike, and this was the original design goal of Unix?

    --
    Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
  2. Re:Some words about Big Blue by bWareiWare.co.uk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Okay what do we know about IBM:

    • The have designed the chips for all the major consoles.
    • The have dumped their Intel based PC business.
    • They have dumped their partner for Power based PCs (IBM would have hardly had to bend over backwards to continue the Apple relationship - they must have basically stonewalled them for Job's to risk a jump to Intel.)
    • They are very Linux friendly.

    What does that mean?

    • They are going to ship an unbelievable volume of chips, allowing them to make highend chips cost effectively.
    • They have no tires to the existing PC business and are completely free to do something new.
    • They have a powerful and adaptable OS that they can push for everything from mobile phones to big iron.

    If I was Intel/Microsoft/Apple/Lenovo I would be running for the hills. IBM is about to try and redefine computing again.

    I am not simply recycling the hype about the CELL being better then sliced bread. I truly think the signs are there that IBM is going to go head long into the Workstation/Embedded/Client/Server market with a CELL/Linux architecture and are going to try and settle some very old debts with Wintel.

    I don't now whether they will successes. I expect it will come down to whether they can make programming the SPU's as easy as x86. But I think it will be a very interesting few years.