Researchers tutored on use of supercomputer

University Information Technology Services is working to make the latest "super" tool in research technology more accessible to IU researchers. \nUITS hosted two free instructional seminars regarding the use of IU's new supercomputer, the Big Red Cluster, Wednesday in the Student Building Nations lab. \nArvind Gopu, a high-performance computing software analyst at IU, led both four-hour seminars, which were open to all IU researchers, Gopu said. \n"UITS opted to offer this service because a lot of people have expressed interest in using IU's new supercomputer for research purposes," Gopu said. \nGopu added that more than 20 researchers attended each of the seminars, which have the purpose of allowing researchers who need intensive computing on large amounts of data to become familiar with the Big Red supercomputer.\nGopu said the seminars implemented exercises that showed participants how to compile and run their own programs on Big Red and how to use Softenv -- a tool that allows users to set up their environment, which includes specific software they might need for their research. \n"The sessions can be perceived as (the) initial stepping stones to using Big Red," Gopu said. "Some researchers have questions or doubts as to how to go about using the system, and we want to ensure everyone is able to use the system efficiently."\nGopu said the seminars provided an informal setting to allow users to ask questions, practice using the system and run sample programs. \nQingshan Chen, a graduate student in the mathematics department, said he registered to attend the seminar to become comfortable using Big Red for his research project. \n"Another goal of the seminars is to show users the difference between the supercomputer and personal computers," Gopu said.\nBig Red allows a large number of people to use the system at the same time. It can also conduct a large amount of unrelated research simultaneously, in addition to providing users with a vast amount of storage space, much more than any personal computer can offer, Gopu said. \n"The level of stability of the supercomputer is much higher than that of a personal computer because it is operated and maintained by professionals," Gopu said. "Big Red is always going to be up, whereas a personal computer might crash under such a high level of usage."\nPeng Wang, a high-performance computing software analyst at IU, assisted Gopu with the seminar by helping answer participants' questions. \n"I hope that I can learn what kind of support users expect from us through this experience," he said. "I think knowing that will help us in the future."\nGopu will lead two more four-hour instructional seminars Friday at the IU-Purdue University Indianapolis campus. The first session will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the second session will begin at 1:30 p.m. Seats are still available for both sessions, but registration is required and limited. \nTo register to attend a seminar, or for more information about the Big Red supercomputer, visit www.indiana.edu/~rac/hpc/workshops.shtml#bigred.