1 HPC System Acquisition and Service Provision José L. Muñoz Deputy Office Director Office of CyberInfrastructure (OCI) 9 September 2005 Request for Information

2 Agenda  9:00am BackgroundCrawford  9:30amIntroductionMuñoz  10:00amPanel IAhalt Acquisition ModelsAcquisition Models  11:00amBREAKALL  11:15amPanel IIHeisey HPC Vendor PerspectiveHPC Vendor Perspective  12:15pmLUNCH (on your own) ALL  1:00pmPanel IIIDavis Benchmarking/Purchase OptionsBenchmarking/Purchase Options  2:00pmWrap-Up/Discussion ALL

3 Purpose of RFI  Distribute information  Gather information  Answer questions  Promote dialog between potential RPs and potential vendors  Information is being recorded and will be made publicly available Please identify yourself when speakingPlease identify yourself when speaking

4 Registered Demographics  Universities Case Western Reserve U.Case Western Reserve U. Cornell Univ.Cornell Univ. Georgia Inst. Of TechnologyGeorgia Inst. Of Technology Indiana UniversityIndiana University Louisiana State Univ.Louisiana State Univ. NCSANCSA Ohio Supercomputer CenterOhio Supercomputer Center PurduePurdue PSCPSC SDSCSDSC TACCTACC Univ. of NCUniv. of NC Univ. of UtahUniv. of Utah USCUSC  Vendors CrayCray DELLDELL Hewlett PackardHewlett Packard IBMIBM IntelIntel Linux NetworxLinux Networx Rackable SystemsRackable Systems SGISGI Sun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems  Other Argonne National LabArgonne National Lab CASCCASC DOD HPCMPDOD HPCMP Hayes ConsultingHayes Consulting NCARNCAR ORNLORNL RaytheonRaytheon

5 Background  NSF anticipates releasing one or more solicitations for the acquisition of high- performance computing (HPC) systems and support of subsequent HPC services.  NSF anticipates releasing one or more solicitations for the acquisition of high- performance computing (HPC) systems and support of subsequent HPC services.  Prior to the release of the solicitation(s), NSF invites interested parties to provide input on possible models for the acquisition and service support process.  Prior to the release of the solicitation(s), NSF invites interested parties to provide input on possible models for the acquisition and service support process.  Providing such input will not affect an organization's eligibility to respond to any subsequent solicitation(s).

6 Background  NSF intends that its acquisition and support of HPC systems and services will be driven by the requirements of the science and engineering communities including their most computationally challenging needs.including their most computationally challenging needs.  Science and engineering communities will be involved in defining the requirements that guide NSF’s HPC investments.  Science and engineering communities will be involved in defining the requirements that guide NSF’s HPC investments.  Acquisition metrics will include levels of performance on benchmark codes that represent the types of problems for which the system will be used.  Acquisition metrics will include levels of performance on benchmark codes that represent the types of problems for which the system will be used.  The research and education community must have access to a stable and robust production quality HPC environment hardware reliability and the dependability of system software will also be factors in the selection process.hardware reliability and the dependability of system software will also be factors in the selection process.

7 Acquisition Context  One or more HPC systems will be acquired from one or more hardware vendors with funds supplied by NSF.  One or more HPC systems will be acquired from one or more hardware vendors with funds supplied by NSF.  One or more resource providers (RPs) will manage and operate the system(s), including providing basic user support and services.

8 Possible Acquisition Models  1. NSF conducts an open competition to identify an RP or RPs. Proposals … include a description of a competitive process that the RP will use to acquire a system with funds provided by NSF. Once RPs have been identified, each executes the process it proposed to select the system and the vendor from whom the system will be acquired. The final award to an RP will include funds for the acquisition, through a sub- contract to the vendor, of the system identified.  2. NSF conducts an open competition inviting proposals from RP-vendor partnerships for the acquisition, management and operation of an HPC system.  3. NSF acquires a system directly from a vendor through an open competition and initiates a second competition for an RP site.

9 Other Topics for Discussion  Metrics that might be used to define performance and reliability requirements in an acquisition process  Selection criteria that might be used as a basis for proposal evaluation  The strengths and weaknesses of acquiring an HPC system as a one-time purchase and/or of acquiring an HPC system in phases that meet a specified performance curve  Strengths and weaknesses of alternatives such as leasing HPC systems.