Goals How can programs using MRCs help each other? How can ITSD help MRC-using programs? Is there utility in creating a shared resource?

Scientist to Scientist Web server/mailing list for MRC (Gary) –setup and admin experiences –Partner ads Cluster user group?

Scientist to Scientist

Support for Scientists

Shared Resources--Alvarez

Shared Resources--PDSF

Shared Resources—Existing Cluster

Shared Resources—NERSC Center

Shared Resource--Institutional Identify the full population of MRCs and the total of the individual costs of management, i.e., are there economies of scale to be gained. What science could we do if we had an MRC that we’re not doing now? What science could we do cheaper and faster with an MRC? There is unsatisfied demand for MRC, quantify? How much MPP, how much serial?

Miscellaneous Barrier to enter parallel coding exists: –Collaboration between computer scientists and potential computational scientists –Computational scientist to computational scientist help will be hard to come by, given dollars and time –There exists NERSC training and NERSC web- based training

Miscellaneous Better turnaround than PDSF, ability for single user to meet a deadline Program-specific, non-sharable (or reservable), resources for real-time computing/analysis in support of large-scale data acquisition, e.g., gamma-ray spectrometer, electron microscope, telescope

Miscellaneous Mini-proceedings of this workshop How do we help those whose software is at the cusp? Comments: –There’s a better way to do things than what we’re doing now, but it’s hard to identify. –Pooling resources increases instantaneous CPU bandwidth.

Miscellaneous –Learn from PDSF model. –Clusters can be optimized for applications. One size cluster does not fit all. Need to determine specific application needs (possible consulting). –Pessimism about shared resources. Alvarez unstable, PDSF not sufficiently generic, sharing with NERSC has difficulties. –Collect information about existing MRC usage, platforms, and success/non-success stories. –Piggybacking or building on existing cluster could result from success stories. –Professional support appears overly expensive. Can these costs come down with time?

Miscellaneous Two solutions would fit most people: explore more nodes on IBM SP, or consider loss-leader on ITSD Linux cluster Surprised that focus is mostly on clusters. Not sure all applications can use clusters. Other architectures? No center of knowledge on clusters. Web page may be beginning of that. People on the cusp need to have a cluster to try. Need interactive forum.

Miscellaneous Open-source clusters. Some groups’ needs already being met by NERSC Develop computational requirements model and cost it Prepurchase consulting including match-making Some groups need centralized computer room facilities and central administration, but pessimistic about sharing a computing resource Small clusters should be optimized for specific applications; sharing them is couter-intuitive.

Miscellaneous What can ITSD provide that fits within existing funding: acquisition advice, housing, not systems administration Systems administration is seen as desirable but expensive Acquiring institutional system or institutional subsidy of systems administration has major hurdles Joining PDSF or similar model system is viable option for some groups.

Miscellaneous Software training in parallelization (scientist to scientist) Parallel programs user group. SMPs may have advantage. Early economies of scale seem to be in order of 50%. Community is not ready for resource sharing, systems admin is critical but expensive; information sharing is the best path forward.

Miscellaneous Have to make scientific case for long-term solution; short-term solutions may disappear. There’s a point where if you can’t do it faster and better, you’re not going to do it at all. Some groups are at that point. Helpful to have division person participating with ITSD in building cluster, so they’re trained for support. Scientists should be doing science, not IT. Professionals can do a better job.

Path Forward Proceedings Detailed Models Web site/ list