NCAR Supercomputing Center NCAR Supercomputing Center (NSC) Project Status(NSC) Project Status

Update to the CHAPUpdate to the CHAP4 October 20074 October 2007

Krista LaursenKrista LaursenNSC Project DirectorNSC Project Director

Preparations for NSC ConstructionPreparations for NSC Construction

Initiation of meetings with Wyoming partners to begin Initiation of meetings with Wyoming partners to begin discussing the technical and logistical aspects of the project discussing the technical and logistical aspects of the project (site preparation needs, permitting requirements and timelines, (site preparation needs, permitting requirements and timelines, environmental assessment document collection and review, environmental assessment document collection and review, etc.)etc.)

Focus within NCAR on pre-positioning as many materials and Focus within NCAR on pre-positioning as many materials and processes as possible in order to be prepared for a rapid project processes as possible in order to be prepared for a rapid project start pending NSF approval to proceed. Efforts have included:start pending NSF approval to proceed. Efforts have included:– Architecture and engineering (A&E) and general contractor bidders Architecture and engineering (A&E) and general contractor bidders

list generation and pre-qualificationlist generation and pre-qualification– Preparation of statement of work and draft request for proposals Preparation of statement of work and draft request for proposals

(RFP) for A&E selection process(RFP) for A&E selection process– Creation of a comprehensive NSC project management plan, Creation of a comprehensive NSC project management plan,

including a complete staffing plan, project budget, spending plan, including a complete staffing plan, project budget, spending plan, and procurement and risk management strategiesand procurement and risk management strategies

Preparations for NSC ConstructionPreparations for NSC Construction

Participation of NCAR project personnel in dialogue with Participation of NCAR project personnel in dialogue with subject matter experts about current data center design best subject matter experts about current data center design best practicespractices– Project team members will attend a Data Center Energy Project team members will attend a Data Center Energy

Efficiency by Design Charette sponsored by The Uptime Institute, Efficiency by Design Charette sponsored by The Uptime Institute, Inc. in late October Inc. in late October

Preparation of a complete draft of an NSC project proposal, Preparation of a complete draft of an NSC project proposal, containing details on the following: containing details on the following: – Project scientific and technical driversProject scientific and technical drivers– Facility conceptual design and specificationsFacility conceptual design and specifications– Proposed partnership arrangementsProposed partnership arrangements– Project management planProject management plan– Proposed budget and spending plan Proposed budget and spending plan

Building an Intellectual PartnershipBuilding an Intellectual Partnership

Joint NCAR-University of Wyoming retreat held from 24-25 April to Joint NCAR-University of Wyoming retreat held from 24-25 April to continue the dialogue between management and scientific personnel at continue the dialogue between management and scientific personnel at both institutions, and to begin formulating ideas for possible intellectual both institutions, and to begin formulating ideas for possible intellectual collaborationscollaborations

Some compelling ideas are emerging, including:Some compelling ideas are emerging, including:

– Joint creation of a computational science curriculum, perhaps also involving CU Joint creation of a computational science curriculum, perhaps also involving CU as a partneras a partner

– Development of a slate of research areas and faculty positions of mutual Development of a slate of research areas and faculty positions of mutual interest, with initial ideas involving collaborative carbon sequestration research interest, with initial ideas involving collaborative carbon sequestration research and the joint hiring of an ecological climatologistand the joint hiring of an ecological climatologist

In addition to pursuing joint appointments, general agreement to work In addition to pursuing joint appointments, general agreement to work together on submission of joint research proposals, and the conduct of together on submission of joint research proposals, and the conduct of scientific panels and meetings scientific panels and meetings

– Joint NCAR-UW computing research workshopJoint NCAR-UW computing research workshop

– NCAR-Wyoming Days to allow personnel from both institutions to interact and NCAR-Wyoming Days to allow personnel from both institutions to interact and exchange research ideas; first meeting 9-10 Novemberexchange research ideas; first meeting 9-10 November

A Broader Partnership VisionA Broader Partnership Vision

NCAR and University of Wyoming also interested in NCAR and University of Wyoming also interested in developing partnerships with other Front Range institutions – developing partnerships with other Front Range institutions – including CU, CSU, CSM, and NREL – as part of an effort to including CU, CSU, CSM, and NREL – as part of an effort to develop a multidisciplinary collaboratory to enable joint develop a multidisciplinary collaboratory to enable joint research and education in the geosciences. research and education in the geosciences.

A partnership model that expands to include other regional A partnership model that expands to include other regional EPSCoR states (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Idaho, etc.) is also EPSCoR states (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Idaho, etc.) is also being discussed as a way to develop a more extensive and being discussed as a way to develop a more extensive and inclusive collaboratory framework to provide computational, inclusive collaboratory framework to provide computational, research, and education opportunities in areas that are research, and education opportunities in areas that are traditionally not as technologically rich.traditionally not as technologically rich.

Current StatusCurrent Status

NSF continues internal discussions regarding the proposed NSF continues internal discussions regarding the proposed NSC projectNSC project

NSF leadership has raised questions regarding how the NSF leadership has raised questions regarding how the proposed facility will be integrated into the overall NSF proposed facility will be integrated into the overall NSF cyberinfrastructure vision and how it will mesh with NSF’s cyberinfrastructure vision and how it will mesh with NSF’s significant investments in the TeraGrid and the Track-1 and -2 significant investments in the TeraGrid and the Track-1 and -2 supercomputing center awardssupercomputing center awards

To address these questions, GEO has assembled a panel of To address these questions, GEO has assembled a panel of high performance computing (HPC) experts from the high performance computing (HPC) experts from the community to:community to:– examine the specific supercomputing needs of the atmospheric examine the specific supercomputing needs of the atmospheric

and related sciences and and related sciences and – assess options (including the ongoing provision of supercomputing assess options (including the ongoing provision of supercomputing

support by NCAR) for continuing to meet these needssupport by NCAR) for continuing to meet these needs

Current StatusCurrent Status

A formal charge for the panel has been written and the panel A formal charge for the panel has been written and the panel members have been named; panel activities being coordinated members have been named; panel activities being coordinated by Rich Behnke and Sarah Ruth in ATMby Rich Behnke and Sarah Ruth in ATM

First panel discussion held from 1-2 October; NSF has committed First panel discussion held from 1-2 October; NSF has committed to the panel completing its work by the end of this calendar yearto the panel completing its work by the end of this calendar year

Additional project review steps may be required following the Additional project review steps may be required following the completion of panel review period, pending panel completion of panel review period, pending panel recommendations and NSF response to panel findingsrecommendations and NSF response to panel findings

Tim Killeen and Al Kellie will meet with representatives of the Tim Killeen and Al Kellie will meet with representatives of the Wyoming Governor’s office, University of Wyoming, Cheyenne Wyoming Governor’s office, University of Wyoming, Cheyenne LEADS, the Wyoming Business Council, and Cheyenne Light Fuel LEADS, the Wyoming Business Council, and Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power in Cheyenne on Friday, 5 October to brief partners on and Power in Cheyenne on Friday, 5 October to brief partners on the current status of project discussions within NSF the current status of project discussions within NSF

Current StatusCurrent Status

NCAR staff involved with the project are continuing their work to NCAR staff involved with the project are continuing their work to advance various aspects of the project until feedback from the panel is advance various aspects of the project until feedback from the panel is received. Specifically:received. Specifically:– Preparations for submission of a formal project proposalPreparations for submission of a formal project proposal continue; continue;

complete draft of the document has been assembled and is currently complete draft of the document has been assembled and is currently undergoing review and revisionundergoing review and revision

– Talking pointsTalking points detailing the project history, driving needs, partner detailing the project history, driving needs, partner selection process, and alignment with the NSF strategic plan have been selection process, and alignment with the NSF strategic plan have been prepared and distributed to key individuals (UCAR BOT Members, Wyoming prepared and distributed to key individuals (UCAR BOT Members, Wyoming partners) who may engage in discussions with NSFpartners) who may engage in discussions with NSF

– Conversations with the latest Track-1 and Track-2 awardeesConversations with the latest Track-1 and Track-2 awardees (Univ. of (Univ. of Illinois and Tennessee, respectively) are underway in order to develop Illinois and Tennessee, respectively) are underway in order to develop potential partnerships that will benefit both awardees as well as NCAR’s NSC potential partnerships that will benefit both awardees as well as NCAR’s NSC project objectivesproject objectives

– UCAR BOT and Members will be briefedUCAR BOT and Members will be briefed on the project status during on the project status during meetings from 8-10 October, and a special breakout session with Members meetings from 8-10 October, and a special breakout session with Members will be held on 9 October to facilitate ongoing community dialogue regarding will be held on 9 October to facilitate ongoing community dialogue regarding high performance computing needs of Earth System science researchers high performance computing needs of Earth System science researchers

Discussion and QuestionsDiscussion and Questions