Showing papers by "Violeta Holmes published in 2010"

Huddersfield University Campus Grid: QGG of OSCAR Clusters

Abstract: In the last decade Grid Computing Technology, an innovative extension of distributed computing, is becoming an enabler for computing resource sharing among the participants in "Virtual Organisations" (VO) [1]. Although there exist enormous research efforts on grid-based collaboration technologies, most of them are concentrated on large research and business institutions. In this paper we are considering the adoption of Grid Computing Technology in a VO of small to medium Further Education (FE) and Higher-Education (HE) institutions. We will concentrate on the resource sharing among the campuses of The University of Huddersfield in Yorkshire and colleges in Lancashire, UK, enabled by the Grid. Within this context, it is important to focus on standards that support resource and information sharing, toolkits and middleware solutions that would promote Grid adoption among the FE/HE institutions in the Virtual HE organisation.

Hybrid HPC – Establishing a Bi-Stable Dual Boot Cluster for Linux with OSCAR middleware and Windows HPC 2008 R2

Abstract: The advent of open source software leading to Beowulf clusters has enabled small to medium sized Higher and Further education institutions to remove the “computational power” factor from research ventures. In an effort to catch up with leading Universities in the realm of research, many Universities are investing in small departmental HPC clusters to help with simulations, renders and calculations. These small HE/FE institutions have in the past benefited from cheaper software and operating system licenses. This raises the question as to which platform Linux of Windows should be implemented on the cluster. As the smaller/medium Universities move into research, many Linux based applications and code better suit their research needs, but the teaching base still keeps the department tied to Windows based applications. In such institutions, where it is usually recycled machines that are linked to form the clusters, it is not often feasible to setup more than one cluster. This paper will propose a method to implement a Linux-Windows Hybrid HPC Cluster that seamlessly and automatically accepts and schedules jobs in both domains. Using Linux CentOS 5.4 with OSCAR 5.2 beta 2 middleware with Windows Server 2008 and Windows HPC 2008 R2 (beta) a bi-stable hybrid system has been deployed at the University of Huddersfield. This hybrid cluster is known as the Queensgate Cluster. We will also examine innovative solutions and practices that are currently being followed in the academic world as well as those that have been recommended by Microsoft® Corp.