BitScope Cluster Blade Packs Up to 96 Raspberry Pi 4 Nodes, Boasts Support for the New 8GB Model

BitScope has announced a new revision of its Raspberry Pi cluster computing solution, the Cluster Blade, with support for the new Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB — supporting up to 96 boards in a single module with shared power and cluster control.

"Cluster Blade replaces Blade Quattro in applications that use Raspberry Pi 4 Model B to its fullest," BitScope claims of the new design. "Combined, we believe it's the ultimate Raspberry Pi cluster solution because it integrates fully regulated power management, pre-emptive active cooling, system monitoring and diagnostics with the worlds most effective and now very powerful single board computer."

"Cluster Blade offers an innovative geographically addressed plug-and-play architecture which scales from 4 to 96 nodes per module making cluster deployment easy. Multiple modules combine in racks to create clusters of arbitrary size."

The basic Cluster Blade supports up to four Raspberry Pi Model B boards, including the new 8GB variant, and comes as part of the BitScope Micro Cluster 1U rack-mountable cluster product with integrated network switch and power distribution based on Power over Ethernet (PoE) or a 12-28V external supply.

For those who need more nodes, Cluster Packs combine two, three, or four Cluster Blades with Cluster Plate add-ons — boards that sit at either side and provide power distribution and control plane functionality. These Packs can then be combined into modules up to 96 nodes in size, which then combine into clusters of any size.

"Cluster Blade and Blade Quattro are physically compatible and either can be used in our Blade Rack and Cluster products," BitScope explains of the upgrade. "However, Cluster Blade is specifically designed to build industrial grade Raspberry Pi Clusters. It offers more than twice the regulated power capacity, full remote power management for each node, pre-emptive active cooling, system monitoring and integrated diagnostics support."

Full details are available on the BitScope blog.