University of Portsmouth Unlocks Secrets of the Universe with New Dell High Performance Computer

• SCIAMA* high performance computer used to process immense amount of data provided from telescopes around the world
• University of Portsmouth and the South East Physics Network now on the global stage for physics research
• Dell’s technology gives University the computer power it needs at cost it can afford
• High performance computer capable of making a billion calculations per second

BRACKNELL, UK, 13^th April 2011 – The University of Portsmouth announced today it has a new high performance computer called SCIAMA from Dell and Alces Software. SCIAMA puts the University and the South East Physics Network among the global leaders in physics research and will use data from telescopes to simulate and test current theories about the Universe. The high performance computer will enable the University’s scientists to analyse the very large volumes of data needed for their research much faster than conventional systems.

The University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation was able to build SCIAMA thanks to Dell’s affordable approach to high performance computing, which uses widely-available, standard server and storage hardware combined with Alces Software’s open source HPC software.

The University uses applications such as GADGET2, to simulate large portions of the Universe, as well as a Markov Chain Monte Carlo code (a set of complex algorithms) to test the probability that a given astrophysical theory is correct. The Portsmouth team also uses Scientific Linux as the underlying operating system to power its research using SCIAMA. Using an open software approach takes advantage of the scalability of industry standard hardware without incurring the additional costs often associated with proprietary systems.

Dell’s standardised x86 High Performance Computing (HPC) solutions help the high performance computing community acquire simplified, flexible and efficient computing solutions at a fraction of the cost of proprietary systems. Dell’s previous experience with The Cambridge University HPC Solution Centre and with CERN’s Large Hadron Collider research centres provides customers with support and best practice gleaned from some of the world’s most advanced HPC environments.

• Technical specifications:1008 Cores based on 2.66GHz Intel Xeon processors
• 2GB of memory per core (roughly equivalent to 1000 desktop pc’s)
• 85TB of Lustre-based parallel storage
• 10TB of NFS storage

Quotes

“SCIAMA is an incredibly valuable resource for us here at the University of Portsmouth. The Institute of Cosmology is in a great position to use this high performance computer to make real breakthroughs in understanding the Universe – both by analysing the very latest astronomical observations, and by calculating the consequences of mind-boggling new theories. By selecting Dell’s industry-standard hardware and open source software we’re able to free up budget that would have normally been spent on costly licences and reinvest it. ”

Dr David Bacon – University of Portsmouth

“We are extremely pleased to see our previous experience with other HPC projects such as the University of Cambridge’s HPC Solution Centre and our industry-standard hardware solutions prove a winning combination in the HPC market. We share the University of Portsmouth’s excitement for the possibilities that SCIAMA will open to them.”

Troy West, Vice President and General Manager, Public Sector EMEA Dell

For more information, visit: www.dell.co.uk/hpc

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit www.dell.com.

About University of Portsmouth

The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation is a research institute at the University of Portsmouth devoted to topics in cosmology, galaxy evolution and gravitation. It has nearly 50 staff, post-doctorates and students working on subjects from inflation in the early Universe to understanding the stellar populations in galaxies. Learn more http://research.icg.port.ac.uk/

*Named after the Dennis Sciama a leading figure in the international development of astrophysics and cosmology. SCIAMA is also an acronym of the South East Physics Network Computing Infrastructure for Astrophysical Modelling and Analysis.