Supercomputing at the University of Arizona

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses supercomputing at the University of Arizona. Facilities include access to a Cyber 205 at Princeton's John von Neumann Center (JVNC), and the University of Arizona's own SCS-40 mini-supercomputer. The SCS-40 is a Cray X-MP clone running the Cray Time Sharing operating system (CTSS). It offers a quarter of the computing power of the Cray X-MP for a tenth of the price. The SCS-40 is administered by a local steering committee whose functions include software and hardware acquisition decisions and allocation of supercomputing resources. The committee consists of research faculty and the manager of the Research Support group. One of the functions of the Research Support group of Academic Computing at the Center for Computing and Information Technology, is to support supercomputing at the University of Arizona. This group concentrates on assisting faculty and researchers in modeling their problems on the supercomputers. The staff members of the group have academic backgrounds in statistics, computer science, electrical engineering and information systems. To introduce the supercomputing resources to the user community, the Research Support group conducted a graduate level seminar on supercomputing. Students developed programs on both the JVNC computer and the SCS-40. We will discuss the Research Support group's unique role in supporting and promoting supercomputer use, with specific emphasis on our SCS-40.

REFERENCES

• 1: University of Arizona -Computing and Communications Implementation Plan 1986. .
• 2: Smith, Craig C., User Guide to the John Von Neumann Center, August 11, 1986.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.5 COMPUTER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
      C.5.1 Large and Medium ("Mainframe") Computers
          Subjects: Super (very large) computers

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

General Terms:
Human Factors