HPC Technology

Many innovations in computer technology are first applied in the field of supercomputing. The Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) is a technological pioneer and driving force for the development of solutions for next-generation supercomputers. Experts at JSC share their know-how as part of numerous collaborations with renowned hardware and software developers such as NVIDIA, IBM, Intel, ParTec, and Atos in order to establish new technologies and concepts for future supercomputers.

HPC-Technologie
Prof. Dr. Estela Suarez coordinates the European DEEP projects, which are creating an innovative modular architecture for supercomputers.

Modular supercomputer architecture

Activities in this area focus on developing a modular supercomputer architecture. The idea behind this is based on a supercomputer comprising modules that can be used flexibly and extremely efficiently for scientific applications. Such a modular supercomputer would no longer be assembled monolithically from the same processing units. Instead, the approach involves several specialized modules that can be combined as required, depending on the type of task. The modular design is also particularly suited for integrating future technologies that are the subject of intensive research at Forschungszentrum Jülich. These include, for example, quantum computers and neuromorphic modules modelled on the human brain.

HPC-Technologie

The JUWELS supercomputer is modular. A cluster module with general purpose processors is tightly connected to a booster module equipped with powerful, highly efficient graphics processing units for particularly compute-intensive applications.

DEEP projects aiming to develop future supercomputer

In the European DEEP projects, JSC experts cooperate with European and international partners to establish the foundations for a novel modular supercomputer architecture. The projects coordinated by JSC aim to develop and test exascale-capable hardware and software for modular supercomputers, which paves the way for the future expansion of the Jülich supercomputing infrastructure.

In mid-2020, the DEEP prototype of a modular supercomputer with three modules was completed. It includes an all-purpose Cluster module (CM), a special data analytics module (DAM), and an Extreme-Scale Booster (ESB) module for particularly compute-intensive applications. The modules are connected to each other via a high-speed network. >> Article

In the DEEP-SEA project (Software for Exascale Architectures), which was launched in 2021, JSC experts work with project partners on adapting all levels of the software stack to efficiently support highly heterogeneous compute and memory configurations of modular exascale supercomputers. >> Article

Photo copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Sascha Kreklau

Last Modified: 19.01.2023