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Welcome to Primeur Monthly
Primeur Monthly is a newsmagazine on High-Performance Computing and Networking applications in and for Europe.
Table of Contents - March 1997
Industry news
Industrial applications
- Philips buys Seachange systems for pay-per-view
- Ad Emmen
- SeaChange International, Inc, a video server-based systems provider, announced that United and Philips Communications b.v. (UPC) has selected the SeaChange Movie System for multichannel pay-per-view (PPV) services for its cable television systems in the Netherlands and Austria. UPC is the largest multi-systemcable operator in Europe with operations in 16 countries. The two installations will be at A2000 in Amsterdam and Telekabel in Vienna, serving 500,000 and 400,000 subscribers, respectively.
HPCN Industry
- Schmidt - Daimler-Benz - delivers HPCN Europe'97 keynote
- Jaap Hollenberg
- AT HPCN Europe in Vienna, a keynote address will be given by Dr. W. Schmidt(Vice-President Technology Management Aerospace from Daimler-Benz AG, inStuttgart, Germany). The title is "HPCN Applications in the Aeronautical Industry".
- AT HPCN Europe in Vienna, a keynote address will be given by Dr. W. Schmidt(Vice-President Technology Management Aerospace from Daimler-Benz AG, inStuttgart, Germany). The title is "HPCN Applications in the Aeronautical Industry".
- IRIS Explorer 3.5 available from NAG for SGI workstations
- A new version of IRIS Explorer, the leading data visualisation toolkit,is
now available for Silicon Graphics workstations running IRIX 6.2. Release3.5
contains many internal enhancements and a large number of new modules for
increased functionality, many of which are based on other NAG productssuch
as the Fortran and Graphics Libraries
- HPC code for mainstream applications
- The Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) has implemented its Fortran 77 andC
numerical libraries as 32-bit Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) for Windows™based
PCs. The addition of the 32-bit DLLs to the previously existing 16-bit DLL
versions, means that support is now provided for Windows NT™, Windows™95,
Windows for Workgroups™ and Windows 3.1 operating systems.
- Time to switch over?
- Anna Solana
- Any pessimism about the impact of parallel computing on SMEs or even bigger enterprises? Any doubts about the future of an architecture which is not very well-known by non-specialised users for the time being? Well, We certainly might be at a low point concerning the use of parallelism but research inthis field, on the contrary, is living through an exciting time which will trigger some changes. At least, that is what is felt by the European and American researchers who were invited to the courses on Supercomputing organized by the Interdepartment Commission for Research and Technology Innovation(CIRIT) at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia this month.
- "The real success for supercomputing will come from faster individual processors"
- James E. Smith, a professor at the Electrical Engineering department of theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison, in the United States, took part in thecourses organized by the Interdepartment Co mission for Research and Technology Innovation (CIRIT) at the Polytechnical University of Barcelona during this month. During the course he gave his opinion on current and future higher performance processors.
- "When the entire computer is on a chip implementations will be cheaper and easier to program"
- Professor Veljko Milutinovic comes from the University of Belgrade and hewas pleased to stay in Barcelona for a few days, not only to talk aboutadvanced computer architecture during the courses organized by the Interdepartment Comission for Research and Technology Innovation (CIRIT) this monthat the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), but also to learn much more about a subject in which he considers himself as a "very important research place" in supercomputing.
- "Intelligent compilers are the goal"
- Zima comes from the University of Viena, where he is professor at theInstitute for Software Technology and Parallel Systems. He was in Barcelona for a few days to talk about High-level Languages, Compilers and Tools for Parallel Scientific Computation at the courses organized by the Interdepartment Commission for Research and Technology Innovation (CIRIT) during his stay at the University of Catalonia (UPC). He was able to share his experiences on supercomputing as well as enjoy the beauty of the town.
- Any pessimism about the impact of parallel computing on SMEs or even bigger enterprises? Any doubts about the future of an architecture which is not very well-known by non-specialised users for the time being? Well, We certainly might be at a low point concerning the use of parallelism but research inthis field, on the contrary, is living through an exciting time which will trigger some changes. At least, that is what is felt by the European and American researchers who were invited to the courses on Supercomputing organized by the Interdepartment Commission for Research and Technology Innovation(CIRIT) at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia this month.
- SNI HPC users meet in Munich
- Every year in Spring, the SAVE Working Group Scientific Computing (SNI user group) meets in Munich. It consists of the working groups "vector computing"and "SC800/SC900" ( SGI machines). In autumn the groups meet independently elsewhere. SNI presents news from their customers and further developmentson the Fujitsu and SGI product lines. This time the meeting was organised from March 6 to 7. Primeur participated and reports on highlights.
Networking
- Groupe Bull and NEC to cooperate in ATM business
- Groupe Bull (Bull) and NEC Corporation (NEC) have agreed to cooperate in the field of ATM1 switches in the European market. The companies also declared that they will strengthen their already solid relationship in the multimedia business area.
European news
- Esprit encourages R&D to detect and identify anti-personnel landmines
- The IT research programme from the European Commission, Esprit, is encouragingR&D
proposals on technologies for the detection and identification of landmines.
This was revealed at the Esprit Information Day in Brussels on 3 March.
- The Future of the Internet -What Role for Europe?
- An Interim report of an Advisory Group with leading interntional experts
makes several recommendations to the European Commission: It is important
that the European Union should recognise the key role that the Internet
is likely to play in the economic development of Europe over the coming
decades. Specific recognition is needed that now is a critical moment for
the evolution of the Internet towards Electronic Commerce. These acts of
recognition must be followed by urgent and effective action, and appropriate
budgetary commitments, aimed at ensuring that Europe reduces the extent
to which it is lagging behind the USA in the development and application
of the Internet.
- Broadband R&D testbed to develop applications is key for Europe - an interview with Thierry Van der Pyl
- Peter Chapman
- In the first part of a two part news feature by Peter Chapman, Thierry Van der Pyl, head of unit in charge of high performance computing and networking R&D in the European Commission warns that we must match U.S. ambition in networking or face the consequences.
- In the first part of a two part news feature by Peter Chapman, Thierry Van der Pyl, head of unit in charge of high performance computing and networking R&D in the European Commission warns that we must match U.S. ambition in networking or face the consequences.
- European HPCN tool developers have to cross several barriers
- Ad Emmen
- European HPCN tool developers are facing several barriers which they have to cross before product prototypes are put successfully in the market. This is the conclusion of a survey conducted amongst 120 European tool developers. At a meeting in Brussels, with the European Commission, several actions were proposed to improve the situation.
- European HPCN tool developers are facing several barriers which they have to cross before product prototypes are put successfully in the market. This is the conclusion of a survey conducted amongst 120 European tool developers. At a meeting in Brussels, with the European Commission, several actions were proposed to improve the situation.
- G7 Electronic Commerce conference in Bonn
- The G7 Initiative "A Global Marketplace for SMEs" organises an Electronic Commerce for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Conference in Bonn, April, 7-9, 1997
- Seminar on European supercomputing codes in Japan
- Smith System Engineering is organising a three day seminar in Kobe Japan
19-21 May 1997 to present the results of EUROPORT and related work under
the European Commission's Esprit programme. In the Europort project, 38 large serial commercial and in-house codes were
ported to parallel supercomputers. This demonstrates the maturity of European
industry in parallel high-performance computing.
- The HPCN network of Technology Transfer Nodes
- The HPCN Preparatory, Support and Transfer Activities (PST) are complementary to the HPCN R&D projects and target the transfer and take-up of High Performance Computing and Networking technologies and services in all relevant sectors of industry, in particular in small and medium size enterprises. Starting in early 1997, a large number of activities are to be carried out within the HPCN network of 20 European technology transfer nodes (TTNs).
Country/Region news
Germany
- German Cartel Office agrees with ATT & Unisource Mannesmann participation
- Network companies AT&T and Unisource have received cartel office approval in Germany for their share in the Mannesmann-consortium that controls 49,8% of Mannesmann Arcor AG & Co., Frankfurt. The two international carriers hold 15% each of the consortium. Further shareholders are Deutsche Bank with 10% and Mannesmann AG with 60%. 50,2% of Mannesmann Arcor is owned by Deutsche Bahn AG.
- China Patent Office buys German information system
- Siemens Nixdorf Information System AG, together with another German company
will help the Chines patent office set up a complete patent-searching system,
equipped with a complete application platform and software. The contract
is worth DM 39 million.
- German Weather Service pays DM 55 million for HPCN services and equipment
- The German Weather Service, Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) is replacing its
computer infrastructure with a supercomputer from Cray Research and newly
announced Silicon Graphics systems, enabling the most accurate and timely
weather predictions in the agency's history. The DM 55 million contract
includes a Cray T3E supercomputer and a network of Origin servers and O2
graphics desktop workstations.
- The IT-development at the Research Centre Rosendorf near Dresden
- Uwe Harms
- Rossendorf, a research centre since 1956, made up its way from old-fashioned IBM-like ESER machines, installed in 1983, to new equipment within only a few years. Dr. Ruprecht Fuelle, head of the computer centre, noted: "Within a few years we made up a backwardness in technology of about 17 years". This step ahead and the successes in the last years and in future will be reported as well as networking, parallelisation and application issues.
- Rossendorf, a research centre since 1956, made up its way from old-fashioned IBM-like ESER machines, installed in 1983, to new equipment within only a few years. Dr. Ruprecht Fuelle, head of the computer centre, noted: "Within a few years we made up a backwardness in technology of about 17 years". This step ahead and the successes in the last years and in future will be reported as well as networking, parallelisation and application issues.
- POPINDA (Portable Parallelization of Industrial Aerodynamic Applications)
- Uwe Harms
- In the German Ministry of Research funded POPINDA project, partners from industry, research and vendors cooperate to develop parallel programs for the simulation of flow around an aircraft. The different experiences and know-how of the partners - aerodynamics, parallel algorithms and informatics- has been merged. The result: new, efficient and portable parallel versions of flow code with modern algorithms and adaptive grid structures. This team has reached the highest standard worldwide in the area of aerodynamic simulation. The project ended last year, and a new one will follow.
Austria
- VCPC at Vienna becomes Austrian TTN
- Chris Lazou
- The European Centre for Parallel Computing, VCPC, at Vienna, has become a European Technology Transfer Node (TTN). VCPC will play a leading role in introducing HPCN to Austrian industry and commerce. Three projects are being tackled under the TTN scheme approved by the EU Commission.
Switzerland
- The Swiss SPEEDUP organisation
- Marie-Christine Sawley
- SPEEDUP is a Swiss organisation that has been involved in high-performance computingsince 1987. Some of the main issues and how to become a member are listedin this article, written by its President, Dr. Marie-Christine Sawley.
- SPEEDUP is a Swiss organisation that has been involved in high-performance computingsince 1987. Some of the main issues and how to become a member are listedin this article, written by its President, Dr. Marie-Christine Sawley.
- Speeding up Switzerland?
- Uwe Harms
- For the tenth anniversary of SPEEDUP, Professor Dr. Urs Hochstrasser - the Father of Swiss Supercomputing - gave an after dinner speech with someback ground on how supercomputing has evolved in Switzerland
- For the tenth anniversary of SPEEDUP, Professor Dr. Urs Hochstrasser - the Father of Swiss Supercomputing - gave an after dinner speech with someback ground on how supercomputing has evolved in Switzerland
- Supercomputing, Swiss style
- Uwe Harms
- The 21st SPEEDUP workshop, March 13 - 14 in Cador-Lugano, Switzerland, targeted to bringing HPC capabilities to your desk-top. This includes networking and load sharing issues as well as visualisation and HPC based on Intel's Pentium Pro as a parallel computer. Another aspect was the web-based collaborative work and tele-education. Vendors discussed the status and future trends in HPCN, their current position, analysis of trends and their strategies for the next years. As about 80 participants from all over the world came together, this 10th anniversary was a big success. In the after dinner speech Prof. Urs Hochstrasser asked: "Why high speed computing in Switzerland?"Primeur will report on most topics in different articles.
- The 21st SPEEDUP workshop, March 13 - 14 in Cador-Lugano, Switzerland, targeted to bringing HPC capabilities to your desk-top. This includes networking and load sharing issues as well as visualisation and HPC based on Intel's Pentium Pro as a parallel computer. Another aspect was the web-based collaborative work and tele-education. Vendors discussed the status and future trends in HPCN, their current position, analysis of trends and their strategies for the next years. As about 80 participants from all over the world came together, this 10th anniversary was a big success. In the after dinner speech Prof. Urs Hochstrasser asked: "Why high speed computing in Switzerland?"Primeur will report on most topics in different articles.
- Vendor perspectives on trends in HPCN
- Uwe Harms
- At the Speedup workshop in Lugano vendors presented existing and future developments in the field of HPCN. CSCS/SCSC succeeded in inviting speakers from Digital, Hewlett-Packard/Convex, IBM, NEC, SGI/Cray, Sun Microsystems and a Tera Computer answered questions on the status and future of HPCN. Dr. Karsten Decker (CSCSC) posed the questions.
- At the Speedup workshop in Lugano vendors presented existing and future developments in the field of HPCN. CSCS/SCSC succeeded in inviting speakers from Digital, Hewlett-Packard/Convex, IBM, NEC, SGI/Cray, Sun Microsystems and a Tera Computer answered questions on the status and future of HPCN. Dr. Karsten Decker (CSCSC) posed the questions.
United Kingdom
- UK Meteorological Office offers datamining service
- Chris Lazou
- The UK Meteorological Office is using its Cray supercomputers not only for weather prediction, but also for datamining applications to predict what people buy from shops when the weather changes. Apart from the obvious ones, such as ice-cream and cold drinks when the weather is hot, the analysis has shown that people in the UK buy more peas and toilet rolls when the weather is cold. The peas for traditional English hot meals such as bangers, mash and peas; the extra toilet rolls are used for wiping running noses.
- The UK Meteorological Office is using its Cray supercomputers not only for weather prediction, but also for datamining applications to predict what people buy from shops when the weather changes. Apart from the obvious ones, such as ice-cream and cold drinks when the weather is hot, the analysis has shown that people in the UK buy more peas and toilet rolls when the weather is cold. The peas for traditional English hot meals such as bangers, mash and peas; the extra toilet rolls are used for wiping running noses.
- SGI opens UK demonstration facility
- Silicon Graphics has opened its SiliconWorks Solution Centre in the industrial heartland of Manchester. The company has invested in the new centre to demonstrate and develop the latest design, analysis and collaborative-working tools for customers in manufacturing industries.
The Netherlands
- Dutch Research School orders Parsytec parallel machine
- Ad Emmen
- The Dutch Research school ACSI has ordered a Parsytec CCi with 144 nodes, each with an Intel Pentium Pro processor. ASCI (Advanced School for Computing and Imaging), founded by four Dutch universities, received an equipment grant from SION, the computer science foundation of the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) to fund the Distributed ASCI Supercomputer (DAS) project.