Europe’s largest further training facility for high-performance computing
With the new training and coaching centre, the HLRS is creating space for the
integration of research, development, production and teaching as well as for the further training
of its users from all over the world. “With around 800 participants annually, HLRS is Europe’s
largest further training facility for high-performance computing“, according to Professor Michael
Resch, Director of the High-Performance Computing Centre Stuttgart. The building with a gross floor
area of 2,003 square metres creates a new 254 square metre training room with state-of-the-art IT
equipment in a fully integrated environment. The training participants can access the training
systems interactively directly next to the high-performance computing systems. The front forum
serves as a foyer and to cater for large events. Along with office space, adjoining rooms and
technical areas are accommodated on the floors. The new centre is to be commissioned in October
2016. The construction costs of almost 6 million Euros will be completely borne by the
university.
Most efficient computer system in Germany
Hazel Hen, the new flagship computer of HLRS, is the upgrade of the super computer
configuration known up to now as “Hornet“. It is equipped with the latest generation of Intel Xeon
high-performance processors that are connected to each other via the Cray Aries System
Interconnect. The system now comprises 41 cabinets with 7,712 computing nodes. Another 32 cabinets
with around 8,300 hard disks have been installed for Hazel Hen as a data storage system, which can
be accessed with read and write speeds of over 350 gigabytes per second. In total the users of the
HLRS system environment now have over 11 petabytes disk capacity available to store their data.
First user applications supplied excellent results
Before the super computer was declared “released“, users from notable research
facilities tested Hazel Hen extensively with real projects in terms of performance and scalability.
In this respect scientists from RWTH Aachen performed calculations, for example in the framework of
the DFG-special research area “oxy-flame“ (SFB/Transregio 129), with the aim of reducing CO
2 emissions from conventional coal-fired power stations by using oxy-fuel technology.
Calculating relevant scenarios is extremely complex since coal dust particles are not spherical and
their motion behaviour is therefore difficult to predict. Researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology KIT and the Institute of Materials and Processes (IMP) from the University of Karlsruhe
used the Stuttgart computer capacities for highly complex numerical simulations of solidification
processes in material research. “The approval of Cray XC40 has shown that we have been able once
again to make an excellent system available for our users“, Professor Michael Resch was pleased to
say. “The first user applications supplied excellent results and we are confident that we will also
be able to expect further technical simulation highlights in the future.“
With the installation of Hazel Hen HLRS performed the last step of the system installation in the framework of the current procurement plan of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) under the involvement of the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North-Rhine Westphalia. This defined the successive extension of the three German federal high-performance computer centres HLRS, Leibniz Computer Centre in Garching/Munich and Jülich Supercomputing Centre with HPC systems of the highest performance category with the aim of securing the competitiveness of Germany in the world-wide HPC competition.
Further information on Hazel Hen: http://www.hlrs.de/systems/platforms/cray-xc40-hazel-hen/
Photos of the topping out ceremony:
http://www.hlrs.de/news/press/for-journalists/
Contact:
Dr Hans-Herwig Geyer, University of Stuttgart, Head of University Communication and
Press Spokesperson,
Tel. 0711/685-82555, Email: hans-herwig.geyer (at) hkom.uni-stuttgart.de