BIG DATA

15 diverse systems available—NSF prepares for transition to XD

Scientists, engineers and other U.S. researchers may apply until July 15, 2010 (12:00 midnight submitter’s local time) for the next quarterly review of requests for free allocations of high-performance computer time, advanced user support, and storage resources that are available through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Cyberinfrastructure’s (OCI) TeraGrid. To apply for an allocation of any size, visit TeraGrid’s online submission system at https://pops-submit.teragrid.org/.

Each quarter, a panel of computational experts known as the TeraGrid Resource Allocations Committee (TRAC) evaluates requests primarily on the appropriateness and technical aspects of using TeraGrid resources. Applications received by the July 15 deadline will be considered at the September 2010 TRAC meeting and awards will be available from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.

TeraGrid allocates more than one billion processor hours to meritorious requests each year. Resources currently exceed two petaflops of combined computing capability and approximately 50 petabytes of online and archival data storage from 11 resource provider sites across the nation. At the June 2010 TRAC meeting, 315 million processor hours and one petabyte of data storage were awarded to 105 research teams.

Allocations are available on 15 systems, including TeraGrid’s two largest, which were funded under the NSF OCI’s Track 2 Program—Ranger at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), and Kraken at the National Institute for Computational Sciences (NICS), plus the newest TeraGrid resources: Nautilus (NICS) and Longhorn (TACC) remote visualization and data analysis systems. Dash, the San Diego Supercomputer Center’s (SDSC) precursor to the Gordon Track 2 system, is available for the evaluation of flash memory and vSMP software. Purdue now offers Wispy, a cluster running KVM and Nimbus cloud software, supporting virtual machines with real Internet addresses. By October 1, 2010, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) will introduce Ember, a shared memory supercomputer. With a peak performance of 16 teraflops, Ember doubles the power of its predecessor, Cobalt. For the most current information about these TeraGrid systems and more, visit the resource catalog at www.teragrid.org/web/user-support/resources.

 

FutureGrid, an experimental grid test bed, is available (for early adopter use) to researchers who are developing new grid and cloud application frameworks. FutureGrid is a proving ground on which to test applications in a variety of different environments (e.g. CTSS vs. clouds). Access and accounts are managed by Indiana University via an online process. For more information, please visit: http://futuregrid.org/.