The High Performance Computing Cluster contains a two tower, 64 node Beowulf Cluster with 32 Gbyte of SDRAM, 1 Terabyte of disk storage, a tape backup unit and an uninterruptible power supply; an 8-processor Sun V880 UltraSparc III with 32GB of ram and 960GB internal disk storage, and a 12-processor V1280 UltraSparc system. Over 100 genomics and proteomics software programs and databases are mounted on and maintained on the server for access across VCU. Over 150 additional processors will be added in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The HPC Cluster is networked to the University Backbone with GigaBit Ethernet and allows access to the VCU computational grid.
The Instructional/Videoconferencing Lab contains state-of-the art teaching, distance learning, and video conferencing capabilities. It has one instructor podium station and 12 student stations, projection capabilities and plasma screen displays, distance learning and videoconferencing equipment, and other equipment required for instruction.
The Research Core Lab contains 8 high-end Intel double boot (Windows/Linux) workstations for research applications. These workstations will be available for use by Center Fellows and Associates for short or long term applications. This Research Core also serves as a smaller scale instructional facility, with projection and teaching capabilities. These rooms are all linked to the University backbone through a dedicated Gigabit Ethernet link.
Supercomputing Systems Group Headed by J. Michael Davis, the High Performance Computing Systems Group consists of a strike team of highly trained operating systems analysts with extensive experience in highly parallel Unix/Linux operating systems. This team is located in approximately 1100 square feet of offices in the Trani Center for Life Sciences and provides 24/7 coverage for the Center and the BCCL.
