Incrementally build compute capacity and improve access to compute resources (M&K)

We have:

Continued to develop the University’s Computational Shared Facility (CSF)  funding 15% of its third iteration. Find out more about the platform at: https://research-it.manchester.ac.uk/services/the-hpc-pool/

We originally intended to:

• Expand the current compute capacity to meet current demand and provide for growing demand, including High Performance Computing, Graphics Processing Units, and Virtual Machines.
• Provide a single point of access to setting up new compute resources; automating the arrangement, coordination and management of computer systems and services.

We originally planned to deliver:

• A defined service and service levels
• A route and mechanism for researchers to commission additional compute capacity
• An on-premise or cloud-provided toolset, allowing researchers to access compute resources seamlessly

The benefits:

• Reduced researcher wait times for new compute capacity
• Increased ability to secure funding which needs specific compute capability, and clearer costing for it
• The flexibility and agility to respond to requests
• Better return on investment, control of cloud spend and visibility of cloud utilisation

Timeline:

• 2018 – 2022

Project Manager: Simon Hood