HPCVisuALL: revolutionising High-Performance Computing (HPC) access for sustainable innovation

ConstelCom是一家总部位于英国的开创性中小企业，成立于2013年，在促进访问高性能计算(HPC)方面有着良好的记录，包括与大型工业客户和研究合作伙伴在使用高性能计算、大数据分析、模拟和建模创造洞察力和价值的项目上成功合作。高性能计算是一种实践，通过提供比典型台式计算机或工作站更高的性能来解决科学、工程或商业中的大型问题。传统上，使用超级计算机并不像使用“普通”计算机那样简单。除非在现场，否则超级计算机需要远程访问，可能具有复杂的文件系统，需要使用排队系统才能提交作业，而且通常缺乏本地用户界面(UI)，使得系统对于未启动的人来说很复杂。ConstelCom创建了一个可通过Web访问的协作平台，它将HPC中心和用户连接到私人环境中，设计为与应用程序无关；它不专注于特定的应用程序或领域，可以用于任何可以利用HPC和大型存储设施的东西。选择星座这个名字是为了反映这样一个事实，即最终目标是提供一个包含所有方面的环境或生态系统：人、软件、硬件和管理工具。高性能计算是对抗新冠肺炎的重要工具：它被用于运行流行病学、生物信息学和分子模型中的无数计算，努力大幅缩短发现可能导致治疗和疫苗的新分子的时间。通过加入新冠肺炎高性能计算联盟，英国已经在全球范围内增加了超过20千万亿次的高性能计算能力。这个由英国支持的创新项目将使所有领域的“非专家”更容易访问高性能计算，从而直接为英国“重建更绿色”的努力做出贡献，加速多个领域的创新，使企业利用以前难以捉摸的高性能计算服务变得更有吸引力和更实惠。这通过简化连接、协作和为所有人开启真正的超级计算而加快了项目流程，无论应用程序、组织规模和计算专业知识如何。具体地说，这个由Innovate UK支持的项目将：*彻底改变HPC用户的远程访问流程和软件利用体验*实现远程3D可视化和渲染项目输出将促进泛行业向远程工作的过渡(使居家工作人员能够从他们的浏览器访问本地HPC的全部优势)，并支持星座成为一个颠覆性平台，从而改变HPC的使用方式(从任何位置更轻松、更灵活和改进的协作方法)。

ConstelCom is a pioneering UK based SME founded in 2013, with a strong track record in facilitating access to High Performance Computing (HPC), including successful collaborations with large industrial clients and research partners on projects that create insights and value using high performance computing, big data analytics, simulation and modelling.HPC is the practice of getting more out of computing power in a way that delivers much higher performance that one could get out of a typical desktop computer or workstation in order to solve large problems in science, engineering or business. Traditionally, using supercomputers is not as straightforward as using a 'normal' computer. Unless on site, supercomputers need to be accessed remotely and may have complicated file systems, require utilisation of queueing systems in order to submit jobs and often lack a native User Interface (UI), making systems complex to use for the uninitiated.ConstelCom has created Constellation, a web-accessible, collaborative platform which connects HPC centres and users in a private environment, designed to be application agnostic; it is not focused on a particular application or field and can be used for anything that can take advantage of HPC and large storage facilities. The name Constellation has been chosen to reflect the fact that the ultimate goal is to offer an environment or ecosystem encompassing all aspects: people, software, hardware and management tools.HPC is a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19: it is being used to run a myriad of calculations in epidemiology, bioinformatics and molecular modelling, in an effort to drastically cut the time of discovery of new molecules that could lead to treatments and a vaccine. The UK has added more than 20 petaflops of HPC computing capabilities to the global efforts by joining the COVID-19 HPC Computing Consortium \[UKRI, 2020\].This Innovate UK-supported project will directly contribute to the UK's efforts to "build back greener" by making it easier for 'non-experts' in all fields to access HPC, accelerating innovation across multiple fields, making it more attractive and affordable for businesses to harness formerly elusive HPC services. This speeds up project flow by simplifying connectivity, collaboration and unlocking true supercomputing for all, regardless of applications, organisation size and computing expertise.Specifically, this Innovate UK-supported project will:* Revolutionise the remote access process and software utilisation experience for HPC users* Enable remote 3D visualisation and renderingProject outputs will facilitate pan-industry transition towards remote working (enabling homeworkers to access the full benefits of on-premises HPC from their browser), and support Constellation to become a disruptive platform, that changes the way HPC is used (easier, more flexible and improved collaboration methods from any location).