🚀 go-pugleaf

As keen net readers know, Spherical recently
announced the EPB (enhanced processing board) for
the cube that supports distributed processing and 
servers as an optical driver board following Turbo
upgrade. The boards are NeXT CPU boards (030,
'040 or even '040 Turbo.                     .

It turns out that one can mount up to four boards
in a cube. We are brainstorming on various uses for
a multi-boarded cube, and would like to solicit
the collective wisdom and creativity of the net in
this process.

Among the uses already suggested are as a departmental
server, with different boards configured and dedicated
to different network functions (fax/print/modem service,
file service, network gateway, etc). Also it has been
suggested that we gang together the four DSP's and 
sync them over the external clock line to produce a cheap
array processor. Another fellow suggested that each board
could be used, in conjunction with a software Raster Image
Processor (RIP) to process one of the four colors (planes) 
in a postscript image in parallel, prior to sending the
image to an imagesetter.

We are soliciting other possible uses for this configuration.
Bear in mind that each board has a full complement of ports
(serial, monitor, DSP, printer) and is fully operational.
It can be configured as a diskless client, or can have
its own hard drive (assuming proper licensure).

Rather than consuming net bandwith on this, I would
request that you send in your ideas by mail. All
such suggestions will be logged and acknowledged. If we
use your idea, we'll work out a royalty schedule that
reflects your contribution.

Final note:

This may be a dumb idea. If you think so, please flame
me unmercifully via email, and I will post a tearful
apology to the net.


Sam Goldberger
Spherical Solutions    sphere@netcom.com (NeXTMail Welcome)
415-383-7512--voice    415-381-9556--fax