Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Supercomputers in Grids
Michael M. Resch
University of Stuttgart, Germany
Edgar Gabriel
University of Houston, USA
ABSTRACT
This article describes the state of the art in using supercomputers in Grids. It focuses on various ap-
proaches in Grid computing that either aim to replace supercomputing or integrate supercomputers in
existing Grid environments. We further point out the limitations to Grid approaches when it comes to
supercomputing. We also point out the potential of supercomputers in Grids for economic usage. For
this, we describe a public-private partnership in which this approach has been employed for more than
10 years. By giving such an overview we aim at better understanding the role of supercomputers and
Grids and their interaction.
INTRODUCTION
built from such standard components have become
the architecture of choice. This is highlighted by
the fact that the fraction of clusters in the list has
increased from about 2% in 2000 to about 73%
in 2006. The key driving factor is the availability
of competitive processor technology in the mass
market on the one hand and a growing aware-
ness of this potential in the user community on
the other hand.
These trends have allowed using the same
technology from the level of desktop systems to
departmental systems and up to high end super-
computers. Simulation has hence been brought
Supercomputers have become widely used in
academic research (Nagel, Kröner and Resch,
2007) and industrial development over the past
years. Architectures of these systems have varied
over time. For a long time special purpose systems
have dominated the market. This has changed
recently. Supercomputing today is dominated by
standard components.
A quick look at the list of fastest computers
worldwide (TOP500, 2008) shows that clusters
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