High Performance Computing and Communications: Toward a National Information Infrastructure
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 368 330 IR 016 567 TITLE High Performance Computing and Communications: Toward a National Information Infrastructure. INSTITUTION Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 94 NOTE 190p.; Illustrations and photographs may not copy adequately. PUB TYPE Reports Evaluative/Feasibility (142) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC08 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Computer Centers; Computer Networks; *Educational Technology; Government Role; Information Networks; Program Evaluation; Research and Development; *Technological Advancement; *Telecommunications; Training IDENTIFIERS *High Performance Computing; High Performance Computing Act 1991; *National Information Infrastructure; National Research and Education Network ABSTRACT This report describes the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) initiative of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology. This program is supportive of and coordinated with the National Information Infrastructure Initiative. Now halfway through its 5-year effort, the HPCC program counts among its achievements more than a dozen high-performance computing centers in operation nationwide. Traffic on federally funded networks and the number of local and regional networks connected to these centers continues to double each year. Teams of researchers have made substantial progress in adapting software for use on high-performance computer systems; and the base of researchers, educators, and students trained in HPCC technologies has grown substantially. The five HPCC program components in operation at present are:(1) scalable computing systems ranging from affordable workstations to large-scale high-performance systems; (2) the National Research and Education Network;(3) the Advanced Software Technology and Algorithms program; (4) the Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications program; and (5) the Bas.c Research and Human Resources program. Components of each are reviewed. Twenty-five tables present program information, with 72 illustrations. (SLD) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** II 11 Alk 0fo) Col 0 Z.. 1 1 00 4:, en A W Of 4 a OF EDUCATION U I DEPARTMENTResearch and improvement Office of Educationsi INFORMATION EOUCKaONAL RESOURCES CENTER (ERICI has been reproducedas 0 This document oroanization received fro,the person or originating a have been made toimprove 0 Minor changes rproduction quality stated in this docu Points of view or opinions official ment do notneceSsanly represent OERI Pesition orpolicy _ A A. Nico HabeTnann (1932-1993.j This "Blue Book" is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague, A. Nico Habermann, who passed away on August 8, 1993, as this publication was going to press. Nico served as Assistant Director of NSF for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) for the past two years and led NE-.F's commitment to developing the HPCC Program and enabling a National Information Infrastructure. He came to NSF from Carnegie Mellon University, where he was the Alan J. Perlis Professor of Computer Science and founding dean of the School of Computer Science. He was a visionary leader who helped promote collaboration between computer science and other disciplines and was devoted to the aevelopment and maturation of the interagency collaboration in HPCC. We know Nico was proud to be part of these efforts. 14 ,11 BEST COPY AVAILABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATIONS TOWARD A NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE A Report by the Committee on Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology Office of Science and Technology Policy EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: I am pleased to forward with this letter "High Performance Computing and Communications: Toward a National Information Infrastructure" prepared by the Committee on Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences (CPMES) of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET), to supplement the President's Fiscal Year 1994 Budget. This report describes the FCCSET Initiative in High Performance Computing and Communications. The interagency HPCC Initiative is developing computing, communications, and software technologies for the 21st century. It is making progress toward providing the high performance computing and communications capabilities and advanced software needed in critical research and development programs. The HPCC Program is fully supportive of and coordinated with the emerging National Information Infrastructure (N11) Initiative, which is part of the President's and Vice President's Technology Initiative released February 22, 1993. To enable the NH Initiative to build on the HPCC Program, the FCCSET CPMES High Performance Computing, Communications and Information Technology (HPCCIT) Subcommittee has included a new program component, Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications (IITA). It will provide for research and development needed to a address National Challenges, and it will also address problems where the application of HPCC technology can provide huge benefits to America. Working with industry, the participating agencies will develop and apply high performance computing and communications technologies to improve information systems for National Challenges in areas such as health care, design and manufacturing, the environment, public access to government information, education, digital libraries, energy management, public safety, and national security. IITA will support the development of the NII and the development of the computer, network, and software technologies needed to provide appropriate privacy and security protection for users. The coordination and integration of the interagency research and development strategy for this Initiative and its coordination with other interagency FCCSET Initiatives has been led very ably by the CPMES and its HPCCIT Subcommittee. Donald A. B. Lindberg, Chair of the HPCCIT Subcommittee, his interagency colleagues, their associates, and staff are to be commended for their efforts in the Initiative itself and in this report. .Gib ector 5 Office of Science and Technology Policy Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology Committee on Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Education Department of Energy Department of Health and Human Services Department of Interior Environmental Protection Agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Science Foundation Office of Management and Budget Office of Science and Technology Policy FCCSET Directorate Charles H. Dickens, Executive Secretary Elizabeth Rodriguez, Senior Policy Analyst High Performance Computing and Communications and Information Technology Subcommittee HPCCIT HPCCIT Executive Name Agency or Department Subcommittee Committee (see p. iii) Donald A.B. Lindberg National Coordination Chair Chair Office James Burrows National Institute Representative Representative of Standards and Technology John S. Cavallini Department of Energy Alternate Alternate Melvyn Ciment National Science Alternate Alternate Foundation George Cotter National Security Representative Agency Robin L. Dennis Environmental Protection Alternate Agency HPCCIT HPCCIT Executive Name Agency. or Department Subcommittee Committee(see p. iii) Norman Glick National Security Alternate Agency A. Nico Habermann National Science Representative Representative (Deceoved) Foundation Lee Holcomb National Aeronautics Representative Representative and Space Administration Paul E. Hunter National Aeronautics Alternate Alternate and Space Administration Steven Isakowitz Office of Management Representative and Budget Charles R. Kalina National Coordination Executive Office Secretary Norman H. Kreisman Department of Energy Alternate Alternate R.J. (Jerry) Linn National Institute Alternate Alternate of Standards and Technology Daniel R. Masys National Institutes Representative of Health Bruce McConnell Office of Management Alternate and Budget William L. McCoy Federal Aviation Observer Administration James A. Mitchell Department of Representative Education David Nelson Department of Energy Representative Ropresentative Michael R. Nelson Office of Science Representative and Technology Policy Joan H. Novak Environmental RepresentatiN e Protection Agency 7 it HPCCIT HPCCIT Executive Name Agency or Department Subcommittee Committee rs, vou. below, Merrell Patrick National Science Alternate Alternate Foundation Alex Poliakoff Department of Alternate Education Thomas N. Pyke National Oceanic Representative Representative and Atmospheric Administration John Silva Advanced Research Alternate Alternate Projects Agency Pau! H. Smith National Aeronautics Alternate Alternate and Space Administration Stephen L. Squires Advanced Research Alternate Alternate Projects Agency John C. Toole Advanced Research Representative Representative Projects Agency Judith L. Vaitukaitis National Institutes Alternate of Health Note: The Advanced Research Projects Agency. the National Science Foundation. the Department and Energy. and the National Aeronautic.s