Sony removing Linux from PS3 dicks over the Air Force D:

[Meresgi]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2...-air-force.ars

The Air Force is one example. The Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York picked up 336 PS3 systems in 2009 and built itself a 53 teraFLOP processing cluster. Once completed as a proof of concept, Air Force researchers then scaled up by a factor of six and went in search of 2,200 more consoles (later scaled back to 1,700). The $663,000 contract was awarded on January 6, 2010, to a small company called Fixstars that could provide 1,700 160GB PS3 systems to the government.

Does it matter?

Sony's decision had no immediate impact on the cluster; for obvious reasons, the PS3s are not hooked into the PlayStation Network and don't need Sony's firmware updates. But what happens when a PS3 dies or needs repair? Tough luck.

We checked in with the Air Force Research Laboratory, which noted its disappointment with the Sony decision. "We will have to continue to use the systems we already have in hand," the lab told Ars, but "this will make it difficult to replace systems that break or fail. The refurbished PS3s also have the problem that when they come back from Sony, they have the firmware (gameOS) and it will not allow Other OS, which seems wrong. We are aware of class-action lawsuits against Sony for taking away this option on systems that use to have it."

[Plow]

The Air Force is one example. The Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York picked up 336 PS3 systems in 2009 and built itself a 53 teraFLOP processing cluster. Once completed as a proof of concept, Air Force researchers then scaled up by a factor of six and went in search of 2,200 more consoles (later scaled back to 1,700). The $663,000 contract was awarded on January 6, 2010, to a small company called Fixstars that could provide 1,700 160GB PS3 systems to the government

fucking no wonder ps3's disappeared for a couple months lol, wonder how many other major orders like that have happened since people started realizing how good it was



on topic: really won't have that much of an effect. As mentioned, they don't need the updates. Beyond that, it's a safe assumption at this point that Sony is working (fairly hard) on a more adaptable frame for this kind of thing, which will mean direct production for this market.

[arus2001]

Would think if someone throws enough money at them, Sony would make exceptions for government operations.

[Plow]

Would think if someone throws enough money at them, Sony would make exceptions for government operations.

They've donated systems to non-military researchers. There's an article I've linked before about a guy they gave like 16 (a total value of less than 5k) that built it into a system that runs as many as he wants of operations that cost 5-6k to run a single time on one of the big supercomputers.

[Devolver]

PS3 dicks.

[Qalbert]

Tags
air, dicks, force, linux, ps3, removing, sony

lol

[Jodwahh]

Top ten tags of all time contender?

[Korietsu]

Olde.