Sony's removal of the ability to run Linux on the PS3 has caused some disquiet in one corner of the United States Air Force. That corner runs a 500 TeraFLOPS Heterogeneous Cluster powered by 1,700 160GB PS3s.
Following a bidding and assessment process that saw the USAF examining Sony BCU-100, IBM Blade Q22, and IBM PowerXCell 8i CAB accelerators cards, the Advanced Computing Architectures team at the Information Directorate opted for PS3s to run its cluster due to the price and effectiveness of the inbuilt CELL processor.
All good then. However, following the Linux-demolishing system update, as spokesperson for the Air Force Research Laboratory told Ars, "We will have to continue to use the systems we already have in hand (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."
So, expect lots of bids from the USAF for old PS3s on eBay.
Source
Following a bidding and assessment process that saw the USAF examining Sony BCU-100, IBM Blade Q22, and IBM PowerXCell 8i CAB accelerators cards, the Advanced Computing Architectures team at the Information Directorate opted for PS3s to run its cluster due to the price and effectiveness of the inbuilt CELL processor.
All good then. However, following the Linux-demolishing system update, as spokesperson for the Air Force Research Laboratory told Ars, "We will have to continue to use the systems we already have in hand (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."
So, expect lots of bids from the USAF for old PS3s on eBay.
Source
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
VinTheDean 14 May 2010 13:29
1/2
What makes you think that Sony has not kept these people in mind?
I am sure that Sony has an Old Version of the FW or Dual Firmware available. One for the masses (Basic PS3 Consumers) and One for the Institutions (Schools, AirForce, etc). They may have to go through some validation process but I am sure that they can provide these institutions with an older FW (or special FW) that has the feature available.
I am sure that Sony has an Old Version of the FW or Dual Firmware available. One for the masses (Basic PS3 Consumers) and One for the Institutions (Schools, AirForce, etc). They may have to go through some validation process but I am sure that they can provide these institutions with an older FW (or special FW) that has the feature available.
deleted 17 May 2010 13:52
2/2
@VinTheDean
What makes you think they have kept these in mind, by the quote there seems to show that Sony has not helped out the Air Force, shame on Sony, instead of combating this in a way that allows for the Keeping of OtherOS they just couldn't be arsed and removed it, how long before George Hotz hacks the PS3 firmware directly allowing for Linux installation followed by a MASS of homebrew armys?
i mean he has already gotten around the update by releasing an alternative, so that would just mean that he needs to learn how to roll back firmware, woudl the US AF actually use a hack?
What makes you think they have kept these in mind, by the quote there seems to show that Sony has not helped out the Air Force, shame on Sony, instead of combating this in a way that allows for the Keeping of OtherOS they just couldn't be arsed and removed it, how long before George Hotz hacks the PS3 firmware directly allowing for Linux installation followed by a MASS of homebrew armys?
i mean he has already gotten around the update by releasing an alternative, so that would just mean that he needs to learn how to roll back firmware, woudl the US AF actually use a hack?