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NSF awards $500,000 grant for Beowulf Cluster

Posted by Hemos on from the more-clustering-to-you dept.

ragnar! writes "National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $500,000 to support a new parallel computing facility for Bartol. The "major research infrastructure" (MRI) grant will support a parallel system based on 100 linked processors, each of which will run at speeds up to 600 megahertz, connected by fast Ethernet hardware - very similar to the Avalon-Beowulf Cluster, developed by the Los Alamos Center for Nonlinear Studies and Goddard Space Flight Center. "

10 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. BALDRIC.. by a.out · · Score: 3

    We are a cash strapped beowulf group doing legit research (we actually made a little bit of knot (ap math) history) Everyone seems to like us and support what we are doing but no one is putting their money where their mouths are BALDRIC. We are doing this in the true spirit of beowulf.. Taking old surplus hardware from all around a university and putting it to good use .. All of the research findings must be public inorder for anyone to use it, we have a very open source attitude to the cluster.. We currently have 8 nodes up and running with 7 more waiting to get 'on the action'. But our problem is that we have *no* funding. The biggest support we've gotten is a tiny room (I'm talking 15' x 15' at the most) from our Computer Science department.

    My question is: How can we get this kind of support??

  2. First post! by Dr.+Sp0ng · · Score: 3

    I want a Beowulf cluster of THESE THINGS!!

    Sorry, just couldn't resist... bye-bye karma :-)

    "Software is like sex- the best is for free"
    -Linus Torvalds

    1. Re:First post! by say-tan · · Score: 3

      i'm sorry, i'm going to have to agree with the ac on this one. not only was this post on topic, but it was funny. you (mr. moderator) obviously have no sense of humor. we all knew that the beowulf cluster post was going to show up, but this guy beat everyone to it with a first post. if i had moderator points, i would have tried to help correct this by moderating him up, but, alas, i don't.

      --
      Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and speech only to conceal their thoughts. -- Voltaire
  3. Linux close but no cigar by abach · · Score: 3

    Beowulf like clusters become popular, Linux is
    often used, but it have to compete with the large
    and good old Unix suppliers. Take a look at:

    http://www.fysik.dtu.dk/CAMP/valhal.html

    Here you find a similar project, and even an
    explanation why they didn't choose linux.

    Seems like the commercial unices are running
    out of time.

    1. Re:Linux close but no cigar by Greg+Lindahl · · Score: 3


      Linux does have to compete with other Unixes, but people often decide in Linux's favor. For example, this cluster is 277 nodes with better networking, and we chose Linux over Tru64, due to Linux's super system administration capabilities.

      BTW, you can get Compaq's great Alpha compilers for Linux.

  4. ... by Signal+11 · · Score: 3

    Great! Let's just hope none of them have been listening to the ACs here on slashdot or they'll try to build it out of iMacs running linux or palm pilots....

  5. Grant Funding Realities by Admiral+Mouse · · Score: 3

    People making coments about the amount of hardware/support that can be had for $500,00 should remember the realities of grant funding at a University in this country:

    • Universites/Departments typically keep 40-50% of the grant amount awarded to a lab for "indirect cost recovery" (ICR). This is the fee they asses for providing buildings, plumbing, offices, etc (infrastructure costs).

    • People tend to cost 2 x salary once benefits and whatnot are considered. So each $40k person costs the grant about $80k.

    • Labs usually have other costs they need to cover and small bits of large grants are usually used to cover these "extra" needs.


    So, a $500k grant is about $250k after ICR. Then say you fund 2 peole at $35k/year to help build and run it. Now you're down to just $110k for hardware. Even with a "best case" run of the numbers and cheap people, you're still not going to have more than $150k for hardware in this grant.

    Also keep in mind that this grant's funding is spread over 3 years.

    100 600MHz PCs is going to run about $100k even before you start buying networking equipment, backup equipment and power supply/protection equipment.

    In all likelyhood, Bartol is going to need additional funding (possibly x% matching money from the state or other similar grants) to make this a realitiy.

    Just thought people should know that when you get a $500,000 grant, you don't just get a check for $500,000 to blow on hardware. :-)

    ----

    --
    Life if possible, art at any cost.
    1. Re:Grant Funding Realities by Greg+Lindahl · · Score: 3


      MRI grants do not allow universities to charge overhead, and is 100% hardware money. You also have to get at least 20% matching funds.

      In general, equipment over $500 isn't assessed overhead by any university.

  6. The moderators... by seaportcasino · · Score: 3

    Because any post associated with beowolf clusters is normally a troll, the moderators are having a hard time moderating this particular topic...

    Their first instinct is, "Oh God, it's a beowulf post - moderate down, moderate down." It must be a hard itch for them not to scratch in this case :)

  7. explain me something by Tiro_Dianoga · · Score: 3

    From the article it is hard to tell exactly what this money was for. Was it a $500,000 payment for a Beowulf cluster, for Bartol to run the cluster, or for Bartol to build and run the cluster?

    If they are purchasing hardware for that amount, they're getting ripped, because I'm thinking all the needed hardware, including the boxes and the networking equipment, can be had for under $150,000 (they could get a nice bulk order discount).

    My figure wouldn't include costs like assembly/setup labour and the OS (heh) but half the work is opening the boxes...

    Seriously, once the system is going and the scientists have their apps setup, all you need to do is make sure it doesn't overheat. (We are talking about a massive number of x86 systems, here).

    Disclaimer: I really don't know what the hell I'm talking about in this post. If someone could inform us what it costs to maintain a project like this, please post.

    --
    Boo!