Rachel & Jonas (Marvels)

Jonas, named for Jonas Salk, and Rachel, named for Rachel Carson, were GS1280 AlphaServers from Hewlett-Packard (HP). They had a shared memory architecture and exceptional “memory bandwidth” (the speed at which data transfers between hardware memory and the processor) — five to ten times greater than comparable systems of the time.

When they arrived at PSC in 2003, each had 32 Gbytes of shared memory and 16 EV7 processors. By 2008, the Rachel and Jonas systems had each grown to be a loosely coupled set of machines. Each machine held 64 processors and 256 Gbytes of shared memory. Jonas was dedicated to biomedical research, while Rachel supported NSF science and engineering.

Rachel and Jonas were among the first GS1280s to roll out of HP production. 

Research

Some of the important research projects enabled by Rachel and Jonas are highlighted here. To see more, check the Projects in Scientific Computing archive.

Fire in the Brain

Joel Stiles, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, and Stephen Meriney, University of Pittsburgh

Simulations of neural synapses overturn some longstanding assumptions.
Read the full article: https://www.psc.edu/science/2005/stiles

Water, Water Everywhere

Ken Jordan, University of Pittsburgh

With computations providing the ability to interpret innovative laboratory studies, water divulged some of its secrets.
Read the full article: https://www.psc.edu/science/2005/jordan

Seeing Double at the Movies

Joel Stiles and Stuart Pomerantz, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

PSC scientists have found a way to deliver HDTV-quality stereo viewing at resonable cost.
Read the full article: https://www.psc.edu/science/2004/stereo/seeing_double_at_the_movies.html