Clemson Selects Dell High-Performance Computing Cluster To Power Wide-Ranging Research

Clemson University is using a next-generation high-performance computing cluster (HPCC) from Dell to enable a wide range of academic research, from how family migration patterns impact schools and children’s development to the design of wireless communication networks.

The supercomputer, known as the Palmetto Cluster, is housed at Clemson’s Information Technology Center and comprises 512 DellTM PowerEdgeTM 1950 servers with Intel® Quad-Core processors. Dell has worked with researchers at the university to build the cluster, currently benchmarked at 31 teraflops (TF), which means it can perform more than 31 trillion operations in one second, and is expected to grow to a goal of 100 TF.

“The Palmetto Cluster is a shared computing infrastructure offering enhanced computational research capabilities that will benefit our entire research community,” said Jim Bottum, Clemson’s vice provost and chief information officer. “A system of this class from Dell, combined with quality research faculty, highly-trained support staff and world-class operations, is providing Clemson with a cyberinfrastructure for the future.”

The research enabled by the Palmetto Cluster already covers a wide range of disciplines, from cross-layer protocol design of wireless communication networks to simulations in molecular dynamics and developmental studies with children.

“Clemson University has made a commitment to providing its researchers the technology infrastructure they need to reach new academic frontiers,” said John Mullen, Dell vice president of higher education. “Dell clusters deliver the simplicity and value of industry-standard computing while still providing exceptional performance in a highly demanding environment.”

To learn more about Dell’s work with HPCC customers, go to www.dell.com/hpcc.