Today (January 27, 2014), the high-performance computing system “bwUniCluster” takes up operation at KIT. It is the first central system supplying the Baden-Württemberg universities and colleges with high-performance computing capacities. Its capacity of 176 teraflops/s corresponds to that of 5000 high-end PCs connected by broadband technology. The computing system is part of the “bwHPC” Baden-Württemberg state concept for high- and highest-performance computing in research and education.
To account for the increasing significance of scientific computing in research and education, scientific institutions are dependent on latest infrastructure facilities. For this reason, universities and other institutions in Baden-Württemberg jointly developed concepts for the cooperative supply and use of resources and services to support the state’s scientists and students in the best possible way. “The bwUniCluster is part of this state concept and replaces or complements local high-performance computing resources of state universities. Work can be shared and efficiency is enhanced,” explains Dr. Holger Marten, Head of the Scientific Computing and Simulation Section of the Steinbuch Centre for Computing (SCC).
The “bwUniCluster“ at KIT supplies the universities and colleges in Baden-Württemberg with high-performance computing capacities. (Photo: KIT)
The massively parallel “bwUniCluster” (Baden-Württemberg University Cluster) system with a theoretical maximum capacity of 176 teraflops/s, corresponding to 176 trillion computing operations per second, can also be accessed by state universities and colleges that are not yet involved in the program and by cooperative ventures with industry against payment. The investment costs amount to about EUR 4 million. As in case of operation costs, 50% are borne by the state of Baden-Württemberg and 50% by the nine state universities. Under the “bwIDM” innovative identity management project coordinated by the SCC, scientists are granted very easy and secure access independently of their location. Moreover, the state funds a bwHPC support project for the use of high-performance computing systems by the scientists. Science-adequate use and further development of the systems is controlled by a state committee consisting of representatives of all universities involved.
The “bwHPC” state concept was found to be of innovative character and supraregional importance and recommended for funding by the German Research Foundation (DFG). It is considered a model concept for Germany. “bwHPC” covers the funding of high-performance computing (HPC) with variable capacities and competence centers on all levels. Within the framework of the concept, it is planned to extend the high-performance computing center in Stuttgart, to grant broad user groups of state universities access to the high-performance computing systems at KIT, and to establish special, dedicated computing clusters at universities and research institutions of the state. The “bwUniCluster” at KIT’s Steinbuch Centre for Computing (SCC) represents the central HPC supply system for scientists in Baden-Württemberg.
Further information (in German) on bwUniCluster can be found at: http://www.scc.kit.edu/dienste/9237.php
For further information, please contact:
Ursula Scheller, SCC, Phone: +49 721 608-44865, Fax: +49 721 32550, E-Mail:ursula scheller ∂does-not-exist.kit edu
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