The University of Leeds has set itself an ambitious target to secure a place among the top 50 universities in the world by 2015. To help it to achieve this, the research-intensive University has enlisted the help of IT managed services provider, Esteem Systems, to improve and maintain a centralised High Performance Computing (HPC) and Grid computing facility over the next four years.
In recognition of the importance of HPC in research activity, the University has agreed a sustainable funding model to invest £1 million every two years to improve and maintain its HPC research facility. The initial £1 million phase of the project sees Esteem implement a Sun Microsystems high-density computer cluster at the University. Through specialist support and consultancy from Esteem, the University will benefit from increased computational power for research that widens the user base both within and outside of the traditional science and engineering disciplines.
Alan Real, HPC Coordinator at The University of Leeds, explains, “Esteem is a key partner in our work to become a Centre of Excellence for HPC on an international level. The project includes a generous hardware provision to fit and expand for our future requirements, giving our academic staff the ability to develop the quality and impact of their research, which will heighten our profile further in the research arena.”
As a long-term supplier of IT services to the University, Esteem is ideally placed to ensure the HPC and Grid technologies at Leeds are scalable to grow with research demands. Esteem’s modular approach will enable the University to achieve its vision to increase its reputation in academia. The Leeds project is part of The White Rose Grid Consortium, where Esteem is also the main IT services partner. The Consortium brings together researchers from the Yorkshire region who are engaged in e-Science activities and in the development of Grid technology.
Alastair Kitching, Chief Operating Officer at Esteem, says, “We have an excellent relationship with The University of Leeds and The White Rose Grid Consortium. Through interaction with users, workshops, account management and time-on-site, we are committed to helping Leeds meet its objectives and become one of the world’s top 50 universities.”
Esteem provides a solid infrastructure for the University to upgrade with minimal configuration changes, and using high density hardware, the HPC allows for significant expansion to take place. Looking to the future, the University plans to work with Esteem over the next four years to enhance the facility and work to achieve its goal to become one of the top universities in the world.