High Performance Computing Cluster Course
High Performance Computing (HPC) is all about scale and speed. With HPC, you can perform calculations much faster than is possible with a standard computer. HPC is a time-saving solution that can make complex scientific research questions transparent. This can open up new possibilities, result in cost reduction and improve research quality.
About
HPC allows you to solve computational problems for which a single computer does not have the power. An HPC cluster runs on Linux software, a computer operating system slightly less familiar than, say, Windows. A cluster consists of a collection of a large number of individual computers, called nodes, connected by a high-speed connection. All these different nodes in a cluster work in parallel with each other, increasing processing speed to deliver powerful computing power. Whether you are working with human or non-human subject data, there is always an HPC cluster available to suit your research.
Depending on the type of cluster, it is possible to make use of bulk data storage, including backup facilities. As a result, your data is always securely stored. Moreover, various analysis pipelines are available and data can be shared securely and easily.
What services do the UMCG HPC clusters offer?
- They are able to solve computational problems for which a single PC does not have the power
- They provide temporary storage (tmp) for high-performance computing.
- They enable the use of bulk data storage (persistent storage, prm), including backup facilities.
- They provide support for bioinformatics analyses.
- Several analysis pipelines are available (for DNA, RNA and microbiome analysis, global screening array and analysis, and metagenomics).
- A solid scheduling system is in place: computations are automatically scheduled and executed when it is your turn and capacity becomes available.
- Users can be given certain rights or specific roles.
- Data sharing is possible.
