Replacing a Computer Cluster for Big Biological Data

替换生物大数据的计算机集群

• 批准号: RTI-2016-00238
• 负责人: Tatsuno, Masami
• 金额: $ 10.89万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=591383
• 关键词: Replacing; Computer; Cluster; Big; Biological

Recent advances in experimental technology have driven revolutionary and transformative discoveries in neuroscience. One crucial factor in these new technologies is that they produce a huge amount of data. Analysis of these ‘big data’ requires very powerful computing resources, namely a computer cluster. In 2010, the researchers at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) of the University of Lethbridge (UofL) acquired their first computer cluster. The cluster was utilized extensively and contributed to their research significantly. Now, 5 years after the acquisition of the existing cluster, the processors have become obsolete and the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. It is expected that this kind of high-performance computer is likely to break down any time after 5 years of extensive use. However, the extension of the warranty of the current cluster is not possible because of an unrealistically high renewal cost. If the current cluster stops working, which is expected to happen any time in the near future, it will significantly damage the CCBN productivity. We are therefore requesting a new computer cluster that replaces the existing one. The new computer cluster consists of one head node and eight computing nodes. The head node manages the entire system and distributes the submitted jobs to the computing nodes. The computing nodes are equipped with a total of ~1.3 TB memory for big data analysis and ~20,000 graphics core for highly parallel computation. We also request MATLAB software licenses because MATLAB has become a standard analysis tool for neuroscience and health sciences. The new computer cluster will be used by ~25 professors at the CCBN and the associated departments as well as ~300 trainees. It will support the data analysis of >50 research projects that utilize the cutting-edge electrophysiological, imaging, cellular, molecular and cognitive neuroscientific technologies. In addition, the new cluster will also provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain experience with high-performance computing. All these activities will significantly contribute to translational health researches that are performed at UofL and the associated institutions and hence to the health of people in Canada.

实验技术的最新进展推动了神经科学的革命性和变革性发现。这些新技术的一个关键因素是它们会产生大量的数据。分析这些“大数据”需要非常强大的计算资源，即计算机集群。2010年，莱斯布里奇大学（UofL）加拿大行为神经科学中心（CCBN）的研究人员获得了他们的第一个计算机集群。该集群被广泛利用，并对他们的研究做出了重大贡献。现在，在收购现有集群5年后，处理器已经过时，制造商的保修期已经到期。预计这种高性能计算机在大量使用5年后随时都有可能发生故障。但是，由于更新成本高得不切实际，因此无法延长当前集群的保修期。如果当前集群停止工作，预计在不久的将来随时会发生，这将严重损害CCBN的生产力。因此，我们要求一个新的计算机组来取代现有的。新的计算机集群由1个头节点和8个计算节点组成。头节点管理整个系统，并将提交的作业分配给计算节点。计算节点共配备约1.3 TB内存用于大数据分析，约20,000个图形核用于高度并行计算。我们还要求MATLAB软件许可，因为MATLAB已成为神经科学和健康科学的标准分析工具。中央计算机网络的25名教授和相关部门以及300名学员将使用新的计算机群。它将支持bbbb50个研究项目的数据分析，这些项目利用了尖端的电生理、成像、细胞、分子和认知神经科学技术。此外，新集群还将为学生提供获得高性能计算经验的绝佳机会。所有这些活动都将极大地促进在牛津大学和相关机构进行的转化卫生研究，从而促进加拿大人民的健康。