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Computing Core

MPRC -> Core Services -> Computing

The Computing Core’s primary mission is to support the research computing needs of faculty and graduate students affiliated with MPRC. Core staff provide numerous services to support Center faculty and graduate students including system administration and programming, data services, web application development, desktop backups, training and consulting, running a secure data facility, and end user suport. To this end, the Computing Core manages and maintains two state-of-the art computer labs as well as server clusters and a Storage Area Network. It also develops (and maintains) several web-based tools for collaboration which are used by research groups whose members are not necessarily affiliated with the University of Maryland. The Computing Core offers affiliates numerous services including:

Systems Administration & Programming

The Computing Core provides high-end capacity on the Linux side to run computational tasks such as large SAS, Stata and Matlab jobs. It also supports high-end computation such as parallel and distributed computing using MPI, PVM, Condor, Intel’s Math Kernel library, etc. By using various Message Passing Interfaces, MPRC has created a computing environment that is parallel to the Cray T3E 500 node parallel processor structure at the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center (PSC). This allows researchers to test and debug their programs on the 8 64-bit and 20 32-bit logical processors now installed before moving their production runs to PSC.

Data Services

The Computing Core collaborated with the Population Research Institute (PRI) at Pennsylvania State University so that researchers at both institutions could access PRI's data warehouse via the web. MPRC's statistical programmer worked closely with Penn State staff to create labeled SAS datasets and generate lists of variables that make each dataset unique.

Web Application Development

The Computing Core created a web-based file sharing system for MPRC work groups and research groups. The system stores files and/or datasets in a relational database. Users can upload files via a web form (using any standard web browser) from anywhere with Internet Access. Users can also attach metadata such as notes, comments, etc. to the files they upload. Users can assign different privileges (view, edit, modify etc) on individual files for other users of this system. Additionally, the Computing Core provides back-end infrastructure components such as file servers and Relational Database Management Systems to support the work of other MPRC cores.

Desktop Backups

The Computing Core initiated a pilot project with OIT’s storage management group to enable nightly backups of staff desktops. The backups use a Tivoli Storage Management System (TSM), an IBM product. Multiple copies of the data are backed up in multiple locations to ensure redundancy in the event of a disaster. Upon successful completion of the testing phase, MPRC will extend this service to all associated faculty.

Training & Consulting

The Computing Core offers training in SAS and Stata. Each semester, and during the summer, we offer intense four week training classes in SAS and Stata. Increasingly, faculty and graduate students demand higher level training on specific computational issues. As a result, the Computing Core plans to expand its course offerings to more advanced topics, including Computing Models with Correlated Error Structures using AML, Calculating Standard Errors for Models with Complicated Error Structures using Stata, Using ERISA products for Geographic Analysis and Data Construction, and Parallel and Distributed Computing using Matlab and Intel Math Kernel Libraries.

Secure Data Enclave

MPRC currently houses a small secure data facility. The number of researchers who use secure datasets is growing and our new space allows an expanded capacity. To accommodate this, MPRC plans on growing to include more terminals, hardware firewalls and an administrative server which will grant or deny access to users based on policy settings.

End User Support

Computing Core staff oversees software installations and upgrades as well as hardware maintenance in MPRC labs and the secure data room. They also provide end user support to MPRC faculty and graduate students beyond Windows-based support provided by the departmental computing units. This includes administering all Linux and OS-X machines for MPRC associates and software and hardware not supported by individual departments. In addition core staff supports the installation, maintenance and application of security and enhancement patches and upgrades for software for individual faculty machines.