HPCVL: Cloud Power in Action

We’re used to thinking that our PCs can do anything, but some calculations are too complex for even the most sophisticated PC.

When researchers study things like global weather patterns or the inner workings of the brain, they need to perform calculations that would take years on most PCs. That’s why the world’s top research facilities have supercomputers.

HPCVL (High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory) is one of Canada’s biggest supercomputers. Scattered throughout six post-secondary institutions in three cities, it stores vital information for over 500 researchers who trust it to protect the fruits of their labours – which in many cases would be impossible to duplicate if they were to get lost in cyberspace.

HPCVL is made up of 10 large computers powered by 1224 processors and more than 4.9 terabytes of memory with the ability to perform over 3.6 trillion floating point operations per second. Amazingly, all of this power is readily available to HPCVL users, who can access it from their own computers.

So how does HPCVL work? The technology at the heart of HPCVL is known as cloud computing, and it works the way a cloud works. A cloud sits in the sky, storing moisture and waiting to dispense it when the earth needs it. A cloud computer sits in a remote location, storing information and waiting to dispense it as soon as you need it. With cloud computing, you have access to the power of a high performance computer without having to worry about the hardware.

Sun Microsystems is HPCVL’s biggest private sector partner, providing equipment, funding, training and staff since the project started in 1999. As Sun’s direct representative in Southeastern Ontario, we’ve acted on Sun’s behalf throughout every stage of the project.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a sprawling research facility to benefit from cloud computing technology. We’ve learned a lot from our experience with HPCVL and we can duplicate it on a scale that makes sense for you.

Check out our Products page to find out how we can put the power of the cloud to work for you.