The StarGate implements two independent Myri-10G processing nodes on a VXS payload. Each node features a Freescale single/dual-core PowerPC 8641/D with AltiVec™ running at 1.3 GHz and a high performance dual channel memory (DDR2 64-bit @533 MHz per channel). Each node includes 64 MB of Flash memory for fast boot, and a Myri-10G network processor to optimize MPI messages. The VXS P0 connector supports two Myri-10G 10-Gigabit full duplex connections (one per node) to the switched fabric implemented on the VXS-M16 switch module. Other significant features include: Ethernet control plane, I2C management plane, live insertion, power-on self test (POST), Slot ID and Chassis ID, debug console interface on the front panel, and one XMC/PMC expansion slot.

The XL-Gate combines a General Purpose Processor PowerPC 8641 and one or two DSP FPGA units with Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA technology to create a single hybrid node on the Myri-10G switched fabric. The VXS P0 connector supports one Myri-10G connection (XAUI 4-lane) and up to 4X serial connections reserved for FPGA connectivity. Streaming serial I/O is available on the front panel with direct access to the FPGA devices using the RocketIO GTP transceivers available on the LXT and SXT Virtex-5 devices. Powered by Linux or VxWorks, the hybrid node implements direct MPI message passing from FPGA memories to other node memories on the Myri-10G cluster. The XL-Gate supports the CoreFire Design Suite from Annapolis with a dataflow graphical user interface and a comprehensive fixed and floating point DSP library to ease the FPGA application development.

The FastCluster VXS 8-Slot Air-cooled Chassis is a compact VXS system ideal for use in a lab during development and for deployment in a benign (non-rugged) environment. It is designed to support up to seven VXS 3000 SERIES payloads and one VXS-M16 switch module. The chassis offers four (4) Dual Usage Slots for either StarGate or XL-Gate and three (3) Single Usage Slots for StarGate only. In addition the VXS chassis implements Slot ID, Chassis ID, an I2C Management Plane and an Ethernet Control Plane.

The FastCluster 3000 SERIES Software provides an integrated and flexible development and run-time environment enabling users to quickly integrate complex applications on their embedded cluster.

The 3000 SERIES Software implements an open architecture based upon industry standard layered components. This approach promotes productivity and code reuse at the application layer by leveraging the best currently available Development Tools, Run Time Libraries and standard API's to develop embedded real-time applications. Several options are offered to address a wide variety of requirements from soft to hard real-time applications.