National survey of HPC users This article is outdated - use this information at your own risk! Posted on 15 February 2006

The Trinity Centre for High Performance Computing (TCHPC) recently published to results of a survey of High Performance Computing (HPC) users in Ireland, conducted in late 2005. This survey, based on the results of an online questionnaire, raised a number of important issues which SFI have asked the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC) to further investigate. A followup national survey of High Performance Computing Users in Ireland has therefore been recently started as a collaboration between ICHEC and TCHPC. The new survey consists of three phases:

1. An exhaustive search to identify all researchers (post-doctoral level and above) with a need for HPC in Third Level Institutes in Ireland
2. A request that each researcher fill in an online questionnaire
3. A request that each researcher participates in a detailed one-on-one interviews with HPC experts from ICHEC or TCHPC

The primary objectives of this new survey are

• To establish users requirements in terms of hardware and software infrastructure and services (training, user support) with a view to shaping the existing national service, and to determine the adequacy of the current infrastructure for a national service
• To foresee key requirements for future hardware and software procurements, e.g. suitability and cost effectiveness of various technologies
• To understand possible user misconceptions about HPC and their concerns regarding the usefulness of a National Centre - as raised in the initial TCHPC Survey
• To determine how many users could produce a high number of high impact publications if given access to the necessary resources and determine the pre-requisite steps and time-frame for delivery of such publications.

If you have not yet received an invitation to take part in this survey from your own institution but would like to participate, please contact as soon as possible to receive further details on how to access the on-line form and set up an interview. The survey will close on 24th February, and is open to professional researchers only (PhD level or higher) - PhD students must be represented by their supervisors.