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Supercomputers

Some of the world’s fastest supercomputers are among ASC’s accomplishments in advanced computing. However, it is not all about speed. Each new system is engineered to bring certain capabilities to bear on the problems of modeling and simulation that will enhance the overall goals of the Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship Program. In doing so, ASC will continue to challenge the state of art for computer scientists and manufacturers with systems such as those described below:


Dawn/Sequoia

 

Dawn, 16th on the TOP500 list, is an IBM BlueGene/P machine with a peak performance of 501 teraflops.  This is the initial delivery of a system named Sequoia, which is on schedule to deliver 20 petaflops in FY12.  Dawn is not only used to prepare applications for the Sequoia system, but is also an important computational resource for the ASC program.

Dawn/Sequoia Website

 

 


Cielo 

 

Cielo, currently ranked sixth in the world with a peak performance of 1.03 petaflops, was recently was authorized to conduct classified operations for NNSA. NNSA selected Cray Inc. to build Cielo in spring 2010. The selection was made through a highly competitive procurement process.  Design, procurement and deployment were accomplished by the NNSA’s New Mexico Alliance for Computing at Extreme Scale (ACES). ACES is a joint partnership between Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

 

 

 

Roadrunner


 

Roadrunner, built by IBM, is currently ranked as the seventh fastest supercomputer. It has a peak performance of 1.38 petaflops, and was the first supercomputer in the world to perform a sustained petaflops rate on a scientific calculation. It is also the fourth-most energy-efficient supercomputer in the world on the Supermicro Green500 list, with an operational rate of 444.94 megaflops per watt of power used.  Roadrunner has a unique architecture that was designed to explore new computing technology, and is an important stepping stone to even larger systems in the future.

Roadrunner Web site

 

 

 

 

 

Red Storm

Red Storm was the progenitor of the highly successful line of XT platforms offered by Cray.  It is a massively parallel processing (MPP) supercomputer with a distributed memory, multiple instruction, and multiple data (MIMD) architecture with peak performance rated at 284 teraflops. While initially developed for the ASC program, is now serves a broader role in NNSA national security programs.

Red Storm information page

 

 

 

 

BlueGene/L

BlueGene/L—a revolutionary, low-cost machine delivering extraordinary computing power for the nation's Stockpile Stewardship Program, entered the Top 500 supercomputer list in November of 2004 and, following life extensions, is currently number 12 with a peak speed of 596 teraflops. BlueGene/L handles many challenging scientific simulations, including ab initio molecular dynamics; three-dimensional (3D) dislocation dynamics; and turbulence, shock, and instability phenomena in hydrodynamics. It is also a computational science research machine for evaluating advanced computer architectures.

BlueGene/L Web site