HELIOS harnesses PLAYSTATION 3 power Options

[PS3Scene]

HELIOS harnesses PLAYSTATION 3 power Posted by XanTium | 1-6-2007 23:20 EST

From the press release: [QUOTE] Leading digital workflow specialist HELIOS has tapped into the power of the Playstation 3 platform. The games console is powered by the incredibly powerful Cell processor, which is needed to run games in high definition and amazing detail. HELIOS has customised a version of Linux to allow its server suite to run on the PS3 hardware. The free installer will be available from the UK distributor's website from 1st of June (www.jpy.com). It utilises Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 as its operating system, and it includes a test drive version of HELIOS UB, the enterprise client server solution. It is believed that this is the first instance of the games platform being used for a business server solution. The reasons for porting HELIOS to the PS3 are more than simply showing off programming skills of the HELIOS team. It is of course more usual to have the enterprise software running on much more expensive platforms, such as IBM blade servers or Apple Xserves. But the PS3 is capable of lighter duties, and will be used by the HELIOS sales team to demonstrate the software to customers. With fully loaded servers running into multiple thousands of pounds, a compact demonstration server for under £500 makes perfect sense. The HELIOS bundle included on the disc image will run for four hours at a time, allowing users to see what HELIOS can do. Software bundled would cost over £10,000, and getting it to run on a £425 gaming platform is quite a feat. Dr John Yardley, MD of HELIOS distributor JPY Plc, said "It might seem like a crazy idea, but pound for pound the PS3 offers amazing power. I expect plenty of Linux enthusiasts will find good uses for the installation, which includes powerful tools like EtherShare and WebShare. Getting HELIOS running on the platform is akin to cramming a Spitfire engine into a Mini!" The Linux installer is customised to make the best use of the limited memory available on the PS3. The disk image installs Yellow Dog Linux in under 10 minutes, with a configuration designed to optimise performance offering 40% more memory than the standard config. The PS3 uses a 64-bit Cell processor that runs at 3.2 GHz, is PowerPC compatible with 256 MB of main memory, and has performance comparable to a G5 single CPU. The PS3 comes with the NVIDIA RSX Graphics Processing Unit, has a 60 GB 2.5" swappable serial ATA disk and offers WLAN and Gigabit Ethernet for network connectivity. Terra Soft's Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 is binary compatible with its release for the former Apple PowerPC product line and concurrent support for the Mercury Cell products and IBM Cell and pSeries servers. Advantages of the HELIOS PS3 Linux installation: * Free download from HELIOS web site * Easy installation, ready to run in a few minutes * Excellent Linux on PS3 documentation from HELIOS * Dedicated server operating system with optimized performance (40% more memory available) * Java 1.5 runtime is pre-installed * Easy maintenance shell from CD * HELIOS services are pre-installed as a test drive [/QUOTE] Official Website: www.jpy.com

[epsilon72]

"The games console is powered by the incredibly powerful Cell processor, which is needed to run games in high definition and amazing detail."

Uh, I thought that was the RSX's job?

[mlmadmax]

Well the cell can be used in conjunction with the RSX to create some powerfull hardware, or so I have read. The problem is i have yet to play a game that impresses me nor do i see one anywhere in the near future.

When that day comes it will be SWEET.

I am also sick of all these so called cool things with linux and home and crap that is not a game I can pop in and play. That is all i want a great game that is must have exclusively for the PS3 NOW not next year.

This post has been edited by mlmadmax: Jun 2 2007, 07:08 AM

[openxdkman]

RSX is a GPU. A GPU is somehow a dma controller with huge caches, transforming and moving data around. So theoretically you can build a GPU with a few SPUs and enough priviledge to move data around through DMA...

Also people have done real time raytracing with 3 PS3 connected together through a 1Gb/s ethernet hub.

Whatever...

This article is quite surprising because they don't seem to care about the fact that Sony planned to make an INSANELY underpriced (resale price below manufacturing cost by $200) console with the hope to flood the market and get back insane amount of money through royalties taken from MOUNTAINS of retail games sales.

If companies purchase massively PS3's because it's the best machine (best power/price), Sony may not be able to avoid bankruptcy... At the best that will just make Sony shareholders unwilling donators to these companies...

That's an incredible 'paradox' (no fun word intented).
(Proof that the razor blade model chosen by MS & Sony is happy suicide.
Low-tech profitable stuff is the right way, as shown by Nintendo)

This post has been edited by openxdkman: Jun 2 2007, 07:34 AM

[bucko]

So is this just server software, or a programming language? *confused*

[mlmadmax]

I think it is a version of linux that can use the RSX or software for yellowdog that opens the RSX up. But I am not sure. My point is everyone knows about hoe powerful the PS3 can be in theory I just want to see it on the real world, and not folding I want gameplay.

[openxdkman]

Just several linux applications running on Yellow Dog Linux on ps3, useful for companies (servers handling data blindly, no graphics at all involved).
No RSX involved.
The Linux Kernel does just what the hypervisor tolerates, i.e call one of its API to trigger a bitblt from a framebuffer located in cpu-side ram towards framebuffer located in gpu-side ram.
No miracle. Just logical use of standard Linux (with no graphic hardware acceleration).
To have hypervisor tolerate more access to RSX a new open firmware is needed. And it won't come.

This post has been edited by openxdkman: Jun 2 2007, 06:21 PM

[Nytemunkey]

"The games console is powered by the incredibly powerful Cell processor, which is needed to run games in high definition and amazing detail."

I stopped reading right about when I read this... what a joke.

[Mr Invader]

That's an incredible 'paradox' (no fun word intented).
(Proof that the razor blade model chosen by MS & Sony is happy suicide.
Low-tech profitable stuff is the right way, as shown by Nintendo)

I wouldn't consider MS's approach for the 360 happy suicide. Neither would I for the PS3 if it had any decent games that justified its price.

Lets add the Helio to the list of unneccessary accessories Sony says you should have along with the PS3.
PS3: $600 + PSP: $180 and Helio: $415 = $1195
Not including other things of course

[openxdkman]

I admit MS may no longer be using a razor model (their crappy design seems to cost less than resale price now), but Sony is still doing it at the moment and that new non gaming business is chilling :

If companies purchase 100.000 Helios server software packages and 100.000 PS3's to put in their servers dedicated cooled buildings around the planet that will make :
+100.000 x profit margin in the pocket of Helios software owner (not related to Sony I think)
-100.000 x per console loss from the pocket of Sony
0 x per game profit margin in the pocket of sony (servers administrators won't play on the machines...)

Imagine Microsoft putting PS3's in their data centers... Just to make easier worldwide competition against Sony... from a financial point of view...

This post has been edited by openxdkman: Jun 4 2007, 12:37 PM