The Department of Computing and Communications maintains a cluster of AlphaServers primarily for the use of its own HPC community. The resources are also made available to extra-University users through collaborative agreements with such groups as HPCnet.

HPCnet

Memorial University is a member of HPCnet, the Canadian High Performance Computing Network. HPCnet is a collaborative NSERC funded project involving over twenty universities and research institutes throughout the country. The main goal of HPCnet is to link together the high performance computing resources of the research institutes and to make these resources efficiently available to individual researchers.

Advanced Computation and Visualization Centre

AlphaServer 4100

As part of a commitment to HPCnet, Compaq Canada (formerly Digital Equipment of Canada) selected Memorial University of Newfoundland to host an AlphaServer 4100 for use by the Memorial University community, members of HPCnet, and other users in Newfoundland and Canada. The AlphaServer 4100 is a symmetric multiprocessor computer with four 400 MHz Alpha processors and 4 GB of RAM. This system was originally on loan to Memorial through an agreement with Compaq, but has since been purchased.

Monthly usage reports of the AlphaServer 4100 are available. A more comprehensive report of ALL MUN HPC usage reports is also available.

Application Procedure and Conditions

Download, print and complete a copy of the account application form (available as HTML or postscript (coming soon!!)). The form consists of two parts, the first part is a user Responsibilities and Use Agreement and the second details your research use of the system. Hard copies of both pages should then be submitted to:

MUN users must also have a valid account on the campus Unix system, Plato. If you do not yet have a Plato account, pick up an account application form from the C&C Help Centre in the Henrietta Harvey building.

External users will have login access to another Alpha system, Kronos, which will be used as a front end to access the 4100. From here, one can ftp files to/from your home site, compile code and submit batch jobs via LSF to the 4100.

In accepting accounts, users agree to abide by the policies and practices developed by the Steering Committee, recognizing that they are subject to modification.

Access Policies

Usage policies will be determined by a Steering Committee appointed by Memorial's Vice-President (Research), in consultation with the executive committee of HPCnet and users. The Steering Committee recognizes the following as guiding factors.

1. Full utilization of the system is a priority.
2. Priority should be given to jobs which make use of capabilities which are not otherwise available to individual users, e.g. the large memory and/or 4 processor architecture.
3. Encouraging creative use of the unique capabilities should be a priority.
4. Many users require access to the additional compute power, irrespective of the special architecture.
5. Some jobs will require the full system for some periods of time.
6. Setting of priorities and job scheduling will be done via LSF, and will be subject to the inherent degree of flexibility of LSF.
7. System resources should be shared equitably.
8. Users will be required to provide some characterization of their work and their requirements.

Accessing and Using the System