Event floor to showcase smaller version of DiaGrid, the largest research- and education-focused Condor pool in the world

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 -- Cycle Computing is supporting Purdue University in harnessing idle compute power to create a dynamic Condor pool at the upcoming Supercomputing 2009 (SC09) conference, Nov. 14-20, in Portland, Ore. The on-site project will be a demonstration of high-performance computing (HPC) and open source solutions in the cloud.

As demand for computational power for compute-intensive, mission-critical tasks rapidly outpaces IT budgets, companies are looking for innovative solutions to data center space, power and resource challenges. Cycle and Purdue will demonstrate how harnessing the power of idle, unused compute cycles can help companies cost-effectively perform computationally intensive tasks while optimizing existing IT investments and saving energy.

The Condor pool created at the event will be a smaller-scale version of Purdue's DiaGrid, which utilizes Cycle Computing's CycleServer management tools to aggregate the idle compute power of 28,000 processors across the university and on other campuses in Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin. Generating 177 teraflops of compute power, DiaGrid contributes more than two million hours to research projects every month -- the equivalent of a $3 million supercomputer. The research clusters within the DiaGrid pool also average a 1-2 percent idle time, providing one of the highest compute-utilization levels ever. The project benefits faculty, researchers and students who are able to perform demanding science, bioinformatics and social science research and computationally intensive tasks like rendering high-resolution pictures and video. The benefits of DiaGrid are available internationally as well through the NSF TeraGrid and Open Science Grid. Additionally, Campus Technology Magazine selected DiaGrid for a 2009 International Campus Technology Innovators Award.

To learn more about DiaGrid, visit www.itap.purdue.edu/diagrid. An animated video about DiaGrid is also available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH_YHGYQl2g.

"With DiaGrid, we were able to live by the motto of 'No Cycle Left Behind' by building a grid of idle campus resources to provide computational capacity to researchers throughout the world," said John Campbell, associate vice president of information technology at Purdue. "This recreation at Supercomputing 2009 will demonstrate how other organizations can easily share idle cycles, avoid purchasing additional computational capacity, maximize existing data center space and squeeze every bit of performance out of each hardware dollar spent."

In its 21st year, SC09 is the premier annual event for the technical community, bringing together a diverse group of researchers, scientists, IT and data center managers, application developers, computer manufacturers, programmers, journalist and analysts. At the event, Cycle is deploying the equivalent of a Linux Server image on Windows/Mac machines, enabling server HPC workloads to run on idle infrastructure. Thanks to virtualization, Condor and CycleServer, unused capacity can be harvested for useful calculations.

"The most inexpensive processors you have are the ones you already paid for," said Jason Stowe, CEO, Cycle Computing. "The team at Purdue demonstrates true innovation with DiaGrid and empowers countless researchers to creatively use computation for things otherwise thought to be impossible. We're looking forward to creating a smaller version on the show floor -- illustrating the unparalleled benefits of sharing idle compute cycles."

The demo takes place at Supercomputing 2009 at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Ore., on Nov. 14-20, 2009. Visit Purdue at booth #2473 and Cycle at booth #2387.

To schedule a meeting with Cycle at the event, contact Ashleigh Egan at 212.255.0080, ext. 12, or aegan@articulatepr.com.

About Cycle Computing

Cycle Computing delivers proven, secure and flexible high performance computing (HPC) and open source solutions in the cloud. With its unparalleled expertise in compute-intensive environments, Cycle helps clients maximize existing infrastructure and increase compute power by provisioning large-scale, secure HPC clusters on demand in the cloud. Unlike other vendors, Cycle leverages open source technologies to deliver more innovative and flexible grid functionality and to quickly execute complex calculations without the need for IT staff, data center space or upfront equipment costs. Cycle clients experience faster time-to-market, decreased operating costs and unprecedented service and support. The company has deployed proven implementations at Fortune 500s, SMBs and government and academic institutions across a variety of industries for companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Eli Lilly, Lockheed Martin and Hartford Life.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public, doctoral-granting research university founded in 1869. Purdue University's statewide system includes its main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, four regional campuses, and numerous teaching and research sites throughout Indiana. Purdue has a system-wide enrollment of more than 69,000 students from 50 states and 130 countries. Purdue's main campus offers more than 200 majors for undergraduates and more than 70 master's and doctoral programs. The university also has 18 intercollegiate sports teams and more than 850 student organizations.

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Source: Cycle Computing