Alpha beowulf: True64 or Linux?

[Robert Bahnsen]

 Martin,

as far as the NAG fl90 Library is concerned the following versions are 
available for Compaq Alpha:

FNDAU04DB  Release 4 / Compaq Alpha UNIX / Compaq compiler
FNDAU03D9  Release 3 / Compaq Alpha UNIX / NAGWare compiler
FNDAL03D9  Release 3 / Compaq Alpha Linux / NAGWare compiler

The combination Compaq Alpha Linux + (free/cheap) Compaq compiler is 
missing, and NAG said they would not release one in the near future.
Take this pro Tru64 or con NAG, as you like.

HTH,  Robert

> - are there performance differences?
> - software availability? I heard that Compaq's development suite (compilers,
>   debuggers, etc.) is available on both platforms. What about scientific
>   libraries, etc.
> - my guess is that both OS are fully 64bit OS (files > 2GB, etc.).
>   How about the compilers? Can I have 128bit precision for floating point
>   operations?
> - if we buy 4 processor smp boxes: How is the support under either OS?
>   (OpenMP, etc.)
> - How good is the smp performance (i.e., is it worth it in comparison to
>   myrinet?)?
> - what other pros and cons?

--
Dipl.-Phys. Robert Bahnsen  Institut f. Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik
                            CAU Kiel, Leibnizstr. 15, D-24098 Kiel, Germany
                            Fon: +49 (0)431 8804112 Fax: +49 (0)431 8804094
E-Mail:  bahnsen at tp.cau.de  www.theo-physik.uni-kiel.de/~bahnsen/index.html