Facilities

Introduction

Administration of our shared computing resources and infrastructure is the primary task assigned to the department's technical staff. They aim to meet all teaching needs while also pursuing the most effective support for the different needs of our researchers. Feedback from all members of the department is welcome; the better the technical staff understands the needs of our individuals, the better their efforts will be for the department as a whole.

Shared Memory, Multi-processor Computing

The department maintains a shared memory, multi-processor system primarily suited for multi-threaded, CPU intensive programs. The computational server euler is a Microway system that has four Intel Xeon E5-4627 CPUs with 40 cores and 1 TB of memory; it is running Ubuntu Linux.

GPU Computing

The department maintains seven GPU servers suited for AI and Machine Learning. The server hopper is a Microway server with eight Titan RTX GPUs, each with 24 GB of RAM; two Intel Xeon Gold 6254 processors, a combined 36 cores and 72 threads; and 1.5 TB of RAM. The server zuber is an Exxact server with four RTX A6000 GPUs, each with 48 GB of RAM; two Intel Xeon Gold 6248R processors, a combined 48 cores and 96 threads; and 768 GB of RAM. The other five GPU servers are reserved for research projects for specific teams.

Compute Clusters

The department utilizes workstations from the teaching lab to form a compute grid. The pool of nodes normally includes 32 identical systems each with an Intel i7 CPU, 4 processor cores and 8 GB of memory; by arrangement, additional systems could be recruited to increase the total number of CPUs.

Data Storage

Storage for departmental servers and workstations is provided by a 8GB/sec Fiber Channel Storage Area Network and Jetstor arrays. Online daily backups are available to the end users.

Computing Lab

The department computing lab, located on the 3rd floor, comprises two, adjoining spaces. The immediate, thirty-two seats are available to undergraduates for work on computer assignments. A tiered floor, teaching lab adjoins via restricted access door. In addition to allowing for overflow capacity and doubling as an after hours cluster, this second space offers the same audio/visual capabilities of the classrooms and may be reserved in advanced for teaching. Laboratory rules and hours are located on our external webpages under Computing Lab.

Teaching Resources

Course materials may be distributed electronically via web, e-mail, or shared folders. When desired, computer assignments can be completed using department facilities; instructors must communicate this need to the technical staff. High capacity printing capabilities are available for academic needs (e.g. mid-terms and exams).

Wired and Wireless Networking

The department is served largely by two, physical networks. Every faculty office has an one active port for a department workstation and one for a personal computer, connecting to our primary network. The wireless network [MathCS], reserved for research use by department personnel, along with wired ports in shared offices and teaching spaces connect to our utility network. In both cases, user equipment should configure network parameters dynamically by using DHCP.

Services

In addition to support for department workstations, scan/print/fax equipment, and computational facilities; the department maintains its own web, file storage, and network resources.