MRI: Acquisition of a Visualization GPU Cluster (VGC)

该项目支持、增强和支持基于研究和教育的高性能并行计算机图形学，旨在为研究人员和学术机构提供并行计算机图形学和可视化技术。可视化图形处理单元（gpu）集群（VGCs）将被购买并放置在科学研究所（ISR）、奥尔德森布罗德斯学院（A-B学院）和西弗吉尼亚大学（WVU）。vgc紧密耦合gpu将允许研究在以前的系统中无法有效实现的算法。随着高速网络使集群计算成为现实，gpu的带宽将使集群可视化成为现实。由于网络速度较慢，甚至更慢的显示缓冲区读回，以前的集群被迫作为连接不良的pc的集合来操作。然而，VGC凭借其快速的gpu到gpu连接，将能够作为一个单一的集成实体来执行面向图形和gpu的操作。VGC的收购将允许研究新的可视化和分析技术：超高分辨率可视化，极高分辨率视频流的图像处理，通过多个视频摄像机对复杂现实世界场景进行基于图像的重建，以及使用大型gpu执行科学计算和模拟。VGC提供gpu之间所需的高速通信。目前，还没有可用的系统可以在合理的性价比下同时扩大屏幕和深度分辨率。构建VGC可以证明，非专业商品、多用途硬件可以取代昂贵的单任务硬件，同时提供更多的功能和灵活性。更广泛的影响：vgc将在西弗吉尼亚州的三所机构中随时可用，为学生、研究人员、教育工作者和小型企业提供服务，西弗吉尼亚州是一个EPSCoR州，高科技基础设施相对较差。没有获得大量资金或资金来源的组织将能够从该系统和软件设计中学习，并能够构建自己的VGC机器。

This project, enabling, enhancing, and supporting high performance parallel computer graphics based research and education, aims at providing researchers and academic institutions access to parallel computer graphics and visualization technology. Visualizaton Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) clusters (VGCs) will be purchased and placed at the Institute for Scientific Research (ISR), Alderson Broaddus College (A-B College), and at West Virginia University (WVU). The VGCs tightly coupled GPUs will allow investigation of algorithms that could not be implemented efficiently in prior systems. As high-speed networking made cluster computing practical, the bandwidth to the GPUs will make cluster visualization practical. Due to slow networking speeds, and even slower display buffer read-backs, prior clusters were forces to operate as a collection of poorly connected PCs. However, the VGC, with its fast GPU-to-GPU connectivity, will be able to operate as a single, integrated entity for performing graphics- and GPU-oriented operations. The acquisition of the VGC will allow the investigation of new visualization and analysis techniques: ultra-high resolution visualizations, image processing of extremely high-resolution video streams, image based reconstruction of complex real-world scenes through multiple video cameras, and the use of GPUs in-the-large to perform scientific calculations and simulations. The VGC provides the high-speed communication required between GPUs. Currently, there are no available systems that scale-up both screen and depth resolution at a reasonable price-performance ratio. Building a VGC can demonstrate that non-specialized commodity, multi-purpose hardware can replace expensive, single-task hardware while offering more functionality and flexibility.Broader Impact: VGCs will be readily available at three institutions to service students, researchers, educators, and small businesses in West Virginia, an EPSCoR state with relatively poor high-technology infrastructure. An organization without access to significant funds or funding sources will be able to learn from this system and software design, and will be able to build its own VGC machine.