Arctic Region Supercomputing Center

Last updated
Arctic Region Supercomputing Center
ARSC Logo.png
Established1993
Affiliation University of Alaska Fairbanks
DirectorDr. Gregory Newby
Administrative staff
30
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
,
USA
Website arsc.edu
C.T. Elvey Building, former location of ARSC Elvey Building former home of ARSC (46793543565).jpg
C.T. Elvey Building, former location of ARSC

The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center (ARSC) was from 1993 to 2015 a research facility organized under the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Located on the UAF campus, ARSC offered high-performance computing (HPC) and mass storage to the UAF and State of Alaska research communities.

Contents

In general, the research supported with ARSC resources focused on the Earth's arctic region. Common projects included arctic weather modeling, Alaskan summer smoke forecasting, arctic sea ice analysis and tracking, Arctic Ocean systems, volcanic ash plume prediction, and tsunami forecasting and modeling.

ARSC was a Distributed Center (DC), an Allocated Distributed Center (ADC) and then one of six DoD Supercomputing Resource Centers (DSRCs) of the Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) from 1993 through 2011.

History

ARSC hosted a variety of HPC systems many of which were listed as among the Top 500 most powerful in the world. For more than 10 years ARSC maintained the standing of at least one system on the Top 500 list. [1] Funding for ARSC operations was primarily supplied by the DoD HPCMP, with augmentation through UAF and external grants and contracts from various sources such as the National Science Foundation. In December 2010, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported probable layoffs for most of Arctic Region Supercomputer Center's 46 employees with the loss of its Department of Defense contract in 2011. [2] The article reported that 95 percent of ARSC funding comes from the Department of Defense. When that DoD funding source was lost ARSC could no longer afford computers that could be listed on the Top 500 List.

The following timeline includes various HPC systems acquired by ARSC and a Top 500 list standing when appropriate:

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References

  1. ↑ For more than 10 years ARSC maintained the standing of at least one system on the Top 500 list. "University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  2. ↑ ARSC, located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks since 1993, had a budget of about $12 million last year. About 95 percent of that funding comes from the Department of Defense, which has a local contract to provide military and security assistance.Jeff Richardson (2010-12-03). "Arctic Region Supercomputer Center may lose DoD contract; layoffs expected". newsminer.com. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  3. ↑ With the Cray Y-MP named Denali Arctic Region Supercomputing Center (ARSC) was #251 on the first Top 500 Supercompter list in June 1993 published on the first day of the 8th Mannheim Supercomputer Seminar. "TOP500 List - June 1993". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1993-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  4. ↑ This Cray Y-MP M98/41024 system was #251 on the 06/1993 Top 500 list, #302 on the 11/1993 Top 500 list, #405 on the 06/1994 Top 500 list. "Cray Y-MP M98/41024 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1994-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  5. ↑ A Cray T3D named Yukon got #58 on the June 1994 Top 500 Supercompter list while the previous computer Denali was still on the list at position #405 giving ARSC two of the Top 500 Supercompters at the same time. "TOP500 List - June 1994". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1994-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  6. ↑ This ARSC Cray T3D MC128-2 was #58 on the June 1994 Top 500 list and #55 on the November 1994 Top 500 list. "T3D MC128-2 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1994-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  7. ↑ The Cray T3D named Yukon was upgraded to a Cray T3D MC128-8 for spot #83 on the June 1995 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - June 1995". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1994-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  8. ↑ This ARSC Cray T3D MC128-8 was on the Top 500 list for three years: #83 06/1995, #99 12/1995, #127 06/1996, #169 11/1996, #239 06/1997 and #340 11/1997 "Cray T3D MC128-8 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1997-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  9. ↑ The Cray T3D named Yukon was upgraded again to a Cray T3E got get ARSC position #70 on the June 1997 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - June 1997". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1997-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  10. ↑ Yukon was only on the Top 500 list once in this configuration. "Cray T3E at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1997-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  11. ↑ Another upgrade to the T3E900 got ARSC position #62 on the November 1997 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - November 1997". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1997-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  12. ↑ Yukon was on the Top 500 list in this configuration as #62 in 11/1997 and as #67 in 06/1998. "Cray T3E900 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1997-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  13. ↑ "Arctic Region Supercomputing Center installs Cray T3E". HPC Wire. Tabor Communications. 1997-03-07. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  14. ↑ ARSC gets #74 ARSC gets #74 on the November 1998 Top 500 list with another upgrade to the T3E900. "TOP500 List - November 1998". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1998-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  15. ↑ Yukon was only on the Top 500 list once in this configuration. "Cray T3E900 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1997-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  16. ↑ ARSC got spot #44 on the June 1999 Top 500 list after Yukon was upgraded again to a Cray T3E900 with 268 cores. "TOP500 List - June 1999". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 1999-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  17. ↑ Yukon is on the Top 500 list in this configuration for over three years: #44 06/1999, #56 11/1999, #78 06/2000, #107 11/2000, #131 06/2001, #199 11/2001 and #383 06/2002 "Cray T3E900 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2002-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  18. ↑ The IBM Icehawk RISC system got ARSC on the Top 500 list as #117 in June of 2001, #147 in November of 2001, #264 in June of 2002 and #367 in November of 2002. "IBM SP Power3 375 MHz at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2002-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  19. ↑ An IBM SP named Icehawk with 200 CPUs and 276 GFLOPS got ARSC the #117 spot on the June 2001 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - June 2001". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2001-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  20. ↑ Stephen Shankland (2002-01-02). "Compaq, Cray: Supercomputer progress". CNET tells you what's new in tech, culture and science. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  21. ↑ ARSC got spot #116 on the June 2003 Top 500 list with a Cray X1 named Klondike with 60 cores. "TOP500 List - June 2003". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2003-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  22. ↑ Klondike was only on the Top 500 list once in this configuration. "Cray X1 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2003-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  23. ↑ Upgrading the Cray X1 to 124 cores got ARSC spot #71 on the November 2003 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - November 2003". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2003-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  24. ↑ Klondike in this configuration on the Top 500 list as #71 in 11/2003, #154 in 06/2004, #202 in 11/2004 and #353 in 06/2005. "Cray X1 at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2003-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  25. ↑ Stephen Shankland (2003-03-13). "IBM nabs hot supercomputer deal in arctic". CNET tells you what's new in tech, culture and science. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  26. ↑ ARSC got spot #56 on the June 2004 Top 500 list with its IBM System p named Iceberg. "TOP500 List - June 2004". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2004-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  27. ↑ In 2003 IBM had told InfoWorld that Iceberg would put ARSC in sixth place on the Top 500 list.Tom Krazit (2003-03-13). "IBM supercomputer heads north - Arctic center to use 800-processor box". InfoWorld a leading voice in emerging enterprise technology. IDG Communications, Inc. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  28. ↑ The IBM Iceberg RISC system got ARSC Top 500 list spots #56 in 06/2004, #78 in 11/2004, #136 in 06/2005, #253 in 11/2005 and #398 in 06/2006. "IBM eServer pSeries 655 (1.5 GHz Power4+) at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2006-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  29. ↑ Midnight was only on the Top 500 list once. "Midnight - Fire x2200/x4600 Cluster, Opteron 2.6 GHz, Infiniband, Linux system at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  30. ↑ A Sun Opteron Cluster named Midnight with 2,236 cores and 12 TFLOPS got ARSC the #206 spot on the November 2007 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - November 2007". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  31. ↑ Pingo got ARSC Top 500 list spots #109 in 11/2008, #205 in 06/2009, #290 in 11/2009 and #435 in 06/2010. "Cray XT5 QC 2.3 GHz at University of Alaska - Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  32. ↑ A Cray XT5 name Pingo with 3,456 cores got ARSC the #109 spot on the November 2008 Top 500 list. "TOP500 List - November 2008". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  33. ↑ A pre-Thanksgiving email to ARSC confirmed what many at the center had suspected, namely that the center would lose its DoD funding after the current money expires next May. Today the center is funded to the tune of $12 to $15 million, and the DoD slice represents around 95 percent of the total.Michael Feldman (2010-01-22). "Arctic Region Supercomputing Center Gets Cold Shoulder from DoD". HPC Wire. Tabor Communications. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  34. ↑ "Cray XE6, Opteron 16C 2.500GHz, Cray Gemini interconnect". The TOP500 List of the 500 most powerful commercially available computer systems known. The TOP500 project. 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  35. ↑ "Penguin Computing Supplies PACMAN Supercomputer to University of Alaska Fairbanks". Penguin Computing. SMART Global Holdings. 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  36. ↑ "Arctic Region Supercomputing Center - Chugach Cray XE6 system". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Archived from the original on 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  37. ↑ "Arctic Region Supercomputing Center Staff". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  38. ↑ "Arctic Region Supercomputing Center Staff". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  39. ↑ "Arctic Region Supercomputing Center". Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Archived from the original on 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2019-07-07.

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