Systems

The high performance computer systems of the hkz-bw comprise a supercomputer system of the top category and a high performance computer. Both systems have been chosen in such a way that their different architectures complement each other. So an optimum architecture can be offered for a broad application spectrum. The national high performance computer system, operated at the HLRS, is a vector system, that is characterized by an extremely high storage and communications bandwidth. At the SSCK a high performance computer for the state on the basis of Intel Itanium 2 processors is operated. This system is in particular suited for applications which can profit from the large data cache. Both systems will be operated as a tightly coupled distributed system.

The linking of the two systems is physically realized via the fast network connection of the state's research network BelWü with a target bandwidth of 40 Gbit/s. The logical linkage is arranged via a common file system, which from an application's point of view only shows one name space. Within the application the communication between the systems can be performed via the PACX-MPI library developed at the HLRS, which is utilized throughout the world for coupled distributed systems in grid computing. The whole system presents itself to the user as a uniform system with a uniform access. Thereby the hkz-bw infrastructure as part of the D-Grid Initiative integrates "seamlessly" into the future research scenario.

• NEC SX6 system at HLRS
• HP XC6000 cluster at SSC Karlsruhe