HPC Software Ecosystem
In order to facilitate mobility of users between the HPC centers and in particular between centers of different levels in the performance pyramid, similar software requirements, particularly for the respective core applications, are important. In order to obtain data on the used HPC software, the intensity of use and the consulting expertise, there will be a survey to determine the needs of all facilities. The results of this survey can be used to guide users to the HPC centers with appropriate licenses and consulting expertise. For broadly used software, the bundling of requirements can improve the bargaining position for federal state licenses.
A comprehensive view on the HPC ecosystem will also highlight potentials for the harmonization of software acquisition, which promotes mobility between the centers and different HPC levels, increases country-wide consulting expertise, and further strengthens the position in licensing negotiations. The requested investment funds serve the purpose of harmonizing and supplementing the software equipment. Wherever possible, dual-vendor strategies should be pursued and software, which is available for free, should be especially considered. Widely used software packages can benefit from state contracts and shared license servers.
Competence network for operating issues
A close exchange of know-how regarding the operation of the computing and storage facilities is organized in order to make locally available expertise available for the entire network, to enable specialization and thus to achieve an increase in quality.
The exchange of know-how has been taking place twice a year since December 2017 in the form of the NRW HPC Administrator Days and will continue as a part of hpc.nrw. Synergies between the individual institutions have been identified and lectures have been organized in order to improve these synergies. The aim of the consultations can be a standardization of HPC software, of the module catalog and of the configuration of batch systems, in order to develop best practices, which are used across centers.
In hpc.nrw an exchange and, where appropriate, a harmonization of the used software stacks (Linux, operating and user environment) and modern software technologies, for example Container, takes place, to disseminate the user base of HPC systems.