Permalink to this page | Cluster Evolution | Research Projects | The Departments have a major investment in High-Performance Clustered (HPC) computer systems providing a powerful and accessible resource for data-intensive and computing-intensive tasks. The two linked clusters are jointly owned by Mathematics Computing and Technology, Physics and Astronomy in the Science Faculty and the Department of Design, Development Environment and Materials. The systems also support projects in Chemistry, Earth Sciences and The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute. The original initiative for developing the cluster system came from a SRIF grant which was bid for under the auspices of the Department of Statistics. Faculty Users are drawn from the Computing Department, Applied Maths, Engineering and Statistics. In addition to the Clustered system, a range of specialised computing services are maintained and developed based around specific research needs. Services available also include a VMCenter which provides virtual machines using VMWare for specific applications and a Storage Area Network and a Hierarchical Storage environment. IBM Domino Workflow servers are provided for various academic and administrative activities and content management for web-presented information. The Research computer systems are developed and managed jointly by Geoff Bradshaw (Physics & Astronomy) and Allan Thrower (Maths, Computing and Technology). Recent news of the cluster includes the fact that it produced significant results very quickly in a major Combinatorial analysis relating to Steiner Triple Systems of order 15.
Cluster Evolution: Both clusters have evolved from a ever-increasing need for greater processing power. This need stems from current and future planned research being conducted by Maths & Computing, the Department of Design and Innovation and Physics & Astronomy. The requirement has led the departments to integrate their individual clusters providing an essential and very powerful tool for various fields of research. Computations that formerly took several months to complete can be carried out in less than a day in some cases using the power of the IMPACT cluster. The Cluster and ancillary equipment has been being moved to a purpose-built location in a new building on the Open University campus.
A walkthrough in the new HPC Server Room designed and built by Annor Ltd showing optimised trunking and Cluster equipment Former Technology... Protoyping... Equipment Specification... Transition to Linux... openMosix... Total Cost of Ownership... Improved turnround time... Research Projects being undertaken using the High Performance cluster.
Genoveva Burca: Design Jonti Horner: Astronomy Neil Edwards: Earth Sciences Joan Serras: Design Michael Wilkinson: Applied Mathematics Robert Hasson: Applied Mathematics James Hague: Physics Natural Language Processing: Computing Paul Upton: Applied Maths Andrey Umerski: Applied Maths Andrew Norton: Astronomy Stelios Tsangarides: Astronomy Stephen Justham: Astronomy David Broadhurst: Physics Elaine Moore: Chemistry Avik Sarkar: Centre for Computational Linguistics Uwe Grimm: Applied Maths Andrea Capiluppi: Computing Francis Chantree: Computing Heather Whitaker: Statistics Debra Haley: Computing Mike Grannell and Terry Griggs: Mathematics Stephen Lewis: Astronomy Jimena Gorfinkiel: Physics James Hague: Physics