- HPC Buyers Guide
Detailed Buyers Reference- Applications
- Budget
- Processors
- Interconnects
- Memory
- Distributions
- Cluster Management
- Warranty and Support
- Cluster Racking
- Cluster Logical Layout
- Master Node
- Storage
- Backup
- Nodes
- Power
- Cooling
- Commercial Software
- Schedulers
- Account Management
- Security
- Windows Integration
- On-Site and Training
- Next Steps
HPC Applications- Processor
- System
- Network
- Storage
- Power
- Cooling
- Facilities Estimator
- Remote Management
- Green Computing
- Visualization
- Compilers
- Operating Systems
- Schedulers and Tools
- Virtualization
Shipping and Delivery
What are your shipping and delivery options?
Unlike many other vendors, Aspen builds your cluster at our facility, not yours. We believe that this results in a better and more standardized product.
After we have finished, you are encouraged to perform remote systems testing of your running cluster while it is still at Aspen. This allows us to fine tune or change any configurations that do not meet your needs before the system is shipped to you, or help you with applications porting or any other issues that may come up.
After build, unit testing, cluster testing, and remote customer testing, your cluster is broken into single racks. Our systems are normally shipped as single racks which are re-assembled at the customer site. Each rack is then palletized, wrapped, and banded for transport, then shipped to you. Aspen normally utilizes FedEx Freight for our system shipping, but we may use other carriers as needed.
Our rack pallets are designed to allow the use of a fork lift or pallet jack to move them. One or more of your palletized racks will have ramps attached to it, which are used to roll the rack off of the pallet. Accessory boxes will be banded and shrink wrapped to one or more of your racks. The accessory boxes are also node shipping boxes. Keep them in case you need to ship a node back to Aspen for maintenance. International shipments will look different than the figure shown below, as we utilize fully enclosed wooden shipping crates for all International shipments.
Aspen must contract for a delivery truck with a lift gate if your receiving facility does not have a loading dock. Utilize a pallet jack to move the racks while they are still on their shipping pallets. Aspen can arrange for your truck to have a pallet jack at time of delivery if needed. You will need a minimum of a six foot by eighteen foot area to successfully unload a rack from a pallet.
Once your racks have been delivered and removed from the pallets, the racks can be rolled into the final installation location using the integrated rack casters. The Aspen standard 42U rack is 6’, 7” tall. Your facility must have adequate clearance through all doorways and hallways between the unloading area and final destination. Please check for obstacles such as door jambs and automatic door mechanisms which might cause clearance problems. A minimum of two personnel is normally needed to move a fully loaded 42U rack. If your facility does not have adequate overhead clearance to roll the rack into its final installation location, systems can be removed from the rack so that it can be tilted, or special dollies can be used to tilt the rack while it is being transported.
Aspen can receive and install your cluster as part of an on-site visit should that be desired. Discuss your shipping and delivery options and any special needs you have with your Aspen sales engineer.
