RIS HPC Newsletter

High Performance Communications Feb. 7, 2024

Unveiling Innovation

Where minds merge and ideas converge

protocols.io researcher collaboration

Protocols.io, a secure platform for researchers to collaboratively create step-by-step, interactive, and dynamic protocols that can run on mobile or the web, is here at WashU. Researchers can share protocols with colleagues, collaborators, and the scientific community or make them public with ease and efficiency. Protocols.io is also now integrated with LabArchives.

Unlocking insights, comprehensive analysis of SCOPE survey results

SCOPE survey results


The survey results reflect the current and future state of the Scientific Compute Platform and the resources utilized by RIS users and non-users and will assist in the execution of RFPs and POCs.

Why it matters: The Scientific Compute Operational Platform Expansion (SCOPE) will upgrade, update, and expand the high-performance compute platform maintained by RIS, including part or all of the operating software, servers, network, GPUs, CPUs, and storage components for lifecycle upgrade and expansion.

Nextflow, your key to seamless and scalable computing workflows

Nextflow

Introducing Nextflow, widely used for its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use in managing and running complex analyses involving large datasets supporting Docker containers, is now supported by RIS and is available for use on compute1-client nodes. Learn how to run on the cluster using the Nextflow documentation .

Nextflow provides a scripting language that allows users to describe the flow of data and tasks in their analysis pipelines to simplify the implementation and deployment of complex parallel and reactive workflows on the computing cluster.

Exploring frontiers with computational power

Research @ WashU with Randall Martin

By the numbers: RIS resources utilized

  • 2 PB active storage
  • 2 PB of archive storage
  • Access to the general compute resource pool (5,000 CPU cores and 160 GPUs)
  • 61 CPU condo servers
  • Consumed 69,377,364 CPU core hours from 267,854 jobs

Background: Characterizing air quality from global to local scales by gathering satellite remote sensing or other observational data and applying the GEOS-Chem model to simulate the atmosphere, interpret those observations, and understand processes that enable prediction. 

Relevance: Driven strongly by the effects of air quality on human health.

  • Fine particulate matter is a component of air pollution that is recognized as the leading environmental determinant of longevity with need to understand sources, distribution, and processes.

Objective: To understand the traditional sources and processes that affect the composition of the atmosphere, so the community can develop informed decisions on how to manage air quality for purposes of human health, climate, and other aspects of the environment.

Measured Success: Developing a global chemical transport model called GEOS-Chem.

  • Comparing model simulations versus observations from satellite, aircraft, or ground measurements and overall, the ability to reproduce a variety of measurements.
  • Measured utilization of the open source community model used by hundreds of research groups around the world.
  • Cataloging the citations and publications to measure scientific impact.

Stay informed and inspired

Enhancing containerized environments for improved performance and security

RIS is pleased to inform you about the recent upgrade to our Docker platform to 24.0.6. With this update, we’ve incorporated essential fixes and improvements, including enhanced support for images with Ubuntu versions beyond 20.04, resolution of Python unit test issues related to multi-threading handling, and the correction of Docker build errors occurring in the use of home directories.

Why it matters: These updates contribute to a seamless and efficient Docker operation, ensuring a smoother user experience. For a detailed overview of the changes, please refer to the Docker Engine 24.0 release notes. RIS is confident that these upgrades will enhance the overall functionality, security, and reliability of our Docker environment.

Boosting performance and stability

RIS is thrilled to bring you exciting news regarding our recent storage software upgrade to IBM GPFS 5.1.8. These vendor-provided updates bring numerous fixes to the RIS storage environment, including the resolution of SMB disconnects and AFM sync issues while enhancing performance, security, and reliability.

Why it matters: This upgrade will positively impact the user experience on the RIS Storage platform and contribute to a more seamless and efficient operation. For a detailed overview of the changes and improvements, visit the IBM support page.

Keeping tFinity optimized, efficient, and reliable

The Spectra Logic tFinity tape library infrastructure recently underwent expansion keeping tFinity optimized, efficient, and reliable. 

Why it matters: This expansion increases the tape storage capacity by 5200 tapes which is equivalent to 60PB of storage, allowing RIS to meet archival requirements of our users.

Elevate Your Expertise

Join virtual workshops offered by Becker Library in collaboration with WUIT’s Research Infrastructure Services (RIS) designed to deepen your knowledge, refine your skills, and provide hands-on experience in a dynamic learning environment.