RCS Services - Access, and - Availability

Overview

The Research Computing Services section is tasked with supporting those ICT requirements of researchers across the University which are beyond what is expected to be provided by their faculty. It does this by providing a range of physical resources together with advice, training and consulting in the most effective means of using these resources to further their research needs. Where this results in changed methods or major productivity improvements this may be referred to as "eResearch".

In the body of this document we have grouped the physical resources into Computing Services, Data Services, and Visualization Services. Grid Services are not listed separately but included in the above groups, since they can be considered almost as a meta-service. Advice, training, and consulting are grouped under the heading Consulting Services rather than being associated with the physical resources as most users will use a number of different physical resources and their integration can be a major part of the consultation provided.

Contents
Computing Services General-purpose HPC system Grid Computing System Allocatable System Test/Dev Systems Data Services HPC storage DataGrid Visualization Services Computer Visualization Facility AccessGrid Node Renderfarm Consulting Services Ad-hoc User Support Consulting Training

Computing Services

• General-Purpose production HPC system
  This is our main production system. It caters mostly for users who simply need additional computing power, but has the high-speed interconnect required to support the most demanding parallel applications.
  Our current system is a cluster system with 50 dual-Xeon compute nodes. (more info.)
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher (staff or post-grad) can request an account, and collaborators in projects where the Principal Investigator is from UofM
  Availability:	The system is available (via ssh) 24/7, however we reserve the right to schedule downtime for maintenance with at least 7 days notice.

  
  

• Grid-computing system
  Grid computing is an emerging technique to allow groups to share dispersed resources. RCS is collaborating with a number of local groups who are active in Grid development projects. Researchers who are part of other collaborations using Grid computing should contact the section if they wish to be involved in this area.
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher, active or interested in Grid development, can request an account.
  Availability:	The system is usually available (via ssh) 24/7, however, as the Grid is still under development, the system may have extended downtime periods.

  
  

• Special allocatable system
  This was our development system. It is now available for users who need a small dedicated cluster either for testing or because they have special software needs which prevent them using our main system.
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher may apply to use the system.
  Availability:	As per agreement with the current allocatee.

  
  

• Test/Development systems
  In addition to our cluster systems, RCS has a number of stand-alone systems which are used for testing and development. Researchers interested in access to these systems should contact RCS staff. (more info)
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher may apply to use these systems.
  Availability:	By arrangement.

Data Services

• HPC systems disc server
  RCS runs a central disc server which is accesable from all our compute services. All our users are given basic access to the home file-system and extra space for large users is available on request.
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher currently using RCS compute resources.
  Availability:	The file-server is available 24/7, however we reserve the right to schedule downtime for maintenance with at least 7 days notice.

  
  

• DataGrid storage
  As part of our Grid development, RCS has two DataGrid storage nodes. Researchers with the requirement to store files which need to be Grid accessable should contact RCS.
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher may apply to use these systems.
  Availability:	The Storage Nodes are available 24/7, however we reserve the right to schedule downtime for maintenance with at least 7 days notice.

Visualization Services

• Computer Visualization Facility
  The CVF complements our other services. Here we have a number of high-end graphics workstations and specialised display equipment. The equipment can be used by itself, in conjunction with our HPC systems for data-analysis or as a front-end for our render-farm service (see below).
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher may apply to use these systems.
  Availability:	The Facility is located at 723 Swanston St. (rear ground floor), and is usually open between 9am and 5pm on University working days. (because of staffing shortages, drop-in usage may not always be available, but in most cases, pre-arranged access is.)

  
  

• AccessGrid node
  While not actually a visualization service, our AccessGrid node is able to be used as a stereo projection facility or a multi-screen display facility to support our other visualization services.
  The AccessGrid can be considered as an enhanced video-conferencing and collaboration facility. It achieves this through a mix of physical requirements - 3 projectors, 4 cameras, etc., and software support including distributed applications such as powerpoint. (more info)
  

  Access:	The AccessGrid can be booked by any member of staff or researcher. Use of the AccessGrid as a display facility is available to researchers when it is not required for AccessGrid meetings.
  Availability:	The Facility is located at 723 Swanston St. (rear ground floor), and is usually open between 9am and 5pm on University working days. Out-of-hours access (particularly for international meetings) can be arranged (a UoM staff member must be present).

  
  

• Renderfarm
  Computer Visualization is often based on constructing a model and then "rendering" it, i.e. creating an image from a particular viewpoint. For animated visualization, there is a need to render many frames, and this job can often be done on multiple machines. RCS has a number of computers dedicated to this task, and can access more if necessary.
  

  Access:	Any UofM researcher may apply to use these systems.
  Availability:	By arrangement.

Consulting/User Support services

• Ad hoc user support
  Whilst fault calls, general queries and such like should be directed to the Information Services Help Desk (8344 0888), staff in the section are always happy to assist users on our systems.
  

  Access:	Any user (or potential user) of RCS services.
  Availability:	Staff can be contacted by phone, but preferably through e-mail.

  
  

• Consulting
  It is our usual practise to arrange a consultation with all potential users as part of gaining access. Apart from determining the appropriate services we can offer, it also enables us to make suggestions about the most effective ways to use the services. Users are encouraged to seek further consultation at any time, and particularly when new software becomes available or their project has reached a milestone and they move into a new phase with different methods and/or outputs.
  

  Access:	Any user (or potential user) of RCS services.
  Availability:	Consultation is always by arrangement.

  
  

• Training
  While RCS does not currently have any training courses scheduled, this is largely due to the low numbers interested in any one topic at any particular time. If there are sufficient users, such as when a department or group decides to start using our services, we can run training sessions or seminars on a variety of topics. We can also provide pointers to and/or assistance with some online training material.
  

  Access:	Any user (or potential user) of RCS services.
  Availability:	By arrangement.