Challenge^® DM

The Challenge^TM DM network resource server is the entry-level system to the symmetric multiprocessing family of high end servers. Challenge DM is a throughput powerhouse focusing on the needs of the database, file serving, Web serving, digital media, and real-time markets.

Superior Architecture

The CHALLENGE DM system architecture is powerful and flexible. It is based on a 1.2GB/second sustained bus which eliminates time-wasting contention between the various I/O, memory and compute subsystems. The system supports from one to four MIPS® R4400^TM CPUs with 1MB or 4MB of secondary cache each, multiple gigabytes of CPU memory and up to three 320MB/second POWER Channel^TM-2 I/O subsystems.

Flexible Configurations

The CHALLENGE DM network resource server comes standard with one POWER channel-2 subsystem. Each POWER channel-2 contains an Ethernet controller, two 20MB/second FAST/WIDE 16-bit SCSI-II controllers (configurable as single-ended or differential), two 19.2KB RS232 serial ports, a 38.4KB RS422 serial port, a parallel port, and supports up to two optional daughter boards (HIO modules). External storage is provided via the CHALLENGE Vault L, CHALLENGE Vault XL and CHALLENGE RAID. With these products, CHALLENGE DM supports a maximum capacity of more than 3.7TB of on-line, non-RAID storage and 10TB RAID storage, respectively.

The CHALLENGE DM server expands and customizes through industry standard VME-64 based adapters or HIO modules. Among the expansion options: industry-leading performance HiPPI; ATM adapter; 8-port Ethernet adapter; and a dual attach FDDI.

Web and Database Integration

CHALLENGE DM is an ideal perfomance database platform for serving content-rich information across the Web. It also serves compressed and uncompressed digital video, digital audio, and static imagery. It can read and distribute in real time using striped SCSI disks in communication with a high-speed HiPPI adapter. Compressed digital video can be distributed from a SCSI disk to any number of decompression devices. CHALLENGE DM manages constant bit rate data streams in a deterministic manner. It uses the IRIX real-time operating system in conjunction with the XFS filesystem, which allows a process to reserve bandwidth on a disk.

File Serving, Backup, and Storage

CHALLENGE DM provides industry-leading file serving perfomance for mid-range NFS file serving. High-performance networking options, optional high availability capability, excellent systems administration tools, and fast and reliable backup and storage tools come together in a complete solution.

CHALLENGE DM is also an ideal server for archive and hierarchical storage management requirements. Near-line storage ranges from a DLT mini-library with 70GB of storage per device to a multiterabyte D1 based tape library. The IRIXPro suite of powerful and flexible system administration tools can easily manage multiple servers.

Technical specifications for the CHALLENGE DM