Tom Furlani Director, Center for Computational Research

SUNY Buffalo

Metrics for HPC

September 30, 2010

Why Bother?If you don’t measure it, you can’t improve itConstant budgetary pressure

HPC is expensiveCompeting for limited resources with many other worthy

programs Can’t simply state the obvious - that HPC capability is crucial for a

research university

The Good NewsAdvanced computing critical to research

Simulation based engineering and science Data driven science

HPC Centers have a good story to tellTransparency is goodMuch of the info is collected already

Log files from queuing systems

Which Metrics (ROI)Resource Utilization

Provide instantaneous and historical information on resource utilization

Improve system performance for users

UB Metrics on Demand (UBMoD)Grant Database

Track grant proposals submitted and funded by researchers utilizing HPC resources

Track funds budgeted to center from grants

UB Metrics on Demand PortalUBMoD: Web-based Interface for On-demand MetricsCPU cycles delivered, Storage, Queue Statistics, etcCustomized interface (Provost, Dean, Chairs, Faculty)

CCR Grant DatabaseInput data on grants proposalsSearch data to generate reports

Perspective