China unveils first cloud computer

A Chinese leading information technology company has unveiled China’s first cloud computer, a major breakthrough for Chinese cloud computing. The computer developed by the Unisplendour Corporation Limited of Tsinghua University, has a dynamically scalable function in computing power and storage capacity in accordance with customer requirements, according to a statement from the company. The number of the computer’s CPU can be expanded to 65,535 and its storage space can reach up to 85 PB bytes, with a throughput of 1.2 GB bytes per second, according to the statement issued here earlier Wednesday. It differs from personal computers and supercomputers in terms of distributed architecture and combines virtualization technology of cloud computing and computing resources with lower cost. The computer’s software consist of virtualization, big data and automatically-deployed modules, all with independent intellectual property rights, the statement said. The computer’s completely open nature allows high compatibility with various general hardware and industry application software, it added. Cloud computing generally refers to services, including software and storage, accessed by users through the Internet. A cloud computing industry alliance was set up Wednesday in Beijing to promote the development and innovation of information technology. The alliance, China’s first of its kind, was jointly established by Tsinghua University, Peking University and the Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The alliance aims to introduce advanced ideas, technologies and experience of cloud computing from overseas in order to boost the industry in China, said an alliance statement. It will also boost domestic and international cooperation of cloud computing by integrating resources from government, enterprises, universities, research institutes and capital market, it said.