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Chinese version here [English version below]戴尔高性能计算网络 助力探索宇宙起源千百年来，人类一直在孜孜不倦地探索着宇宙起源。宇宙浩瀚无边，科学家们往往通过研究构成宇宙的粒子和进行无数次模拟实验来试图揭示宇宙的起源。欧洲核子研究中心（CERN）备受瞩目的ATLAS粒子物理实验项目就是人类探寻宇宙起源奥秘的一次重要尝试——通过使用大型强子对撞机（LHC）进行重粒子物理实验，全球数千名科学家们试图一起探揭示出质量和暗物质的起源。然而，大型强子对撞机的建造和运行极其复杂，一次对撞试验可能需要数年的准备。不仅要面向计算量巨大的粒子结构分析，还要持续试验，以得出相关的具有现实意义的普遍规律。使用普通的数据计算设备从事上述计算将耗费极长的时间，如果不采用高效的网格计算系统，则根本无法开展有效的研究工作，更谈不上快速地推出研究成果。因此高性能计算平台，成为了顶级科研机构的关键平台。戴尔公司一直以来都致力于推广高性能计算解决方案，为全球众多研究机构提供支持其研究和生产的IT平台。今年年初，戴尔董事会主席兼首席执行官迈克尔•戴尔在瑞士日内瓦造访了欧洲核子研究中心时宣布，戴尔将全力帮助ATLAS粒子物理实验项目，为其建设出众色的高性能计算IT基础设施，并提供相关支持。 戴尔与CERN的这种深层次的合作也延伸到了中国。中国科技大学为了增强学校在微观粒子研究领域方面的研究能力，正在与CERN合作，建立了一个稳定的“高性能网格计算平台”，作为LCG 计算网格（大型强子对撞机计算网格）的有机组成部分。中国科学技术大学粒子物理计算中心的初期目标是建设成LCG 的3级或4级站点，而最终目标则是建设成2级站点。中国科学技术大学的高性能网格计算平台由64片戴尔PE PowerEdgeTM M610刀片服务器，4台戴尔PowerEdgeTM R710机架式服务器、2台戴尔PowerEdgeTM R900服务器和4套MD 1000存储阵列以及CERN定制的Scientific Linux CERN 4(SLC4)操作系统和GridView监控软件组成，目前已建设完成90%。戴尔中国高性能计算团队曾多次访问中国科技大学。令我们感到高兴的是，中国科技大学的研究人员对戴尔高性能计算平台给予了积极的评论。中国科学技术大学近代物理系教授，博士生导师，负责LCG网格系统建设的韩良教授说：“与以往各个院系自建的计算平台相比，新建的高性能计算平台在计算能力方面至少提高了7-8倍，使学校科研的计算总体能力上升到了一个新的台阶。另外，中国科技大学新建的高性能网格计算平台系统作为LCG网格的有机组成部分，实现了计算能力从“有限”到“无限”的飞跃。”赵政国教授是中国科学技术大学粒子物理与技术中心负责人，也是国际知名的高能物理、实验粒子物理学家，国家“千人计划”项目首批入选者之一，他对于该项目的未来充满了信心。他说：“每年大型强子对撞机的运转，都会产生大约1500万亿字节的数据，一年的数据相当于10万张DVD光盘的容量。我们和世界各地的科学家都希望了解并分析这些数据。我们加入了LCG项目，并利用戴尔刀片服务器完成了高性能计算网格平台的建设，可以同全世界数千名科学家一起，对上述数据信息进行分析，这很好地提升了我们物理研究的总体水平和品质。”我们很高兴，中国科技大学正在与其它的研究机构一起受益于戴尔的高性能计算平台，从而加快推出科研成果。我们也希望，戴尔能够通过为越来越多不同行业的客户提供高性能计算平台，帮助它们大幅提高生产率，有效地开展科研和生产工作。
Over the centuries, human beings have never stopped exploring the origins of the universe. Although the universe is a vast expanse, scientists have always persevered to study and understand the origins of the universe through the research of particles in the universe and numerous simulated experiments. The remarkable CERN ATLAS particle physics experiment, an important experiment exploring the mystery of the origins of the universe, is to carry out the heavy particle physics experiment with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), through which, thousands of scientists across the world are attempting to explore and reveal the origins of mass and dark matter.However, the construction and operation of LHC is extremely complex, and one collision experiment may require years of preparation. In addition to the analysis of particle structure that requires huge amounts of computation, there is need for continuity to study the relevant common rules for practical application. With a common data computing device, it will take forever to finish the above mentioned computation. Without the high-performance grid computing system, it is impossible to carry out effective research, let alone the rapid introduction of achievements of the research. Therefore, the high-performance computing platform becomes the key platform for top scientific research institutes.Dell is always committed to promoting high-performance computing solutions to provide numerous research institutes in the world with relevant IT platforms to support their research. Earlier this year, Dell Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO Michael Dell announced during his visit to CERN in Geneva, Switzerland that Dell will spare no efforts to help the ATLAS particle physics experiment, build excellent high-performance computing IT infrastructure and provide relevant support.Moreover, the in-depth cooperation between Dell and CERN extends to China. To enhance the capability of micro-particle research, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is working together with CERN to establish a stable “high-performance grid computing platform” to serve as a constituent of the LCG computing grid (LHC computing grid). With the initial target of establishing LCG level-3 or level-4 sites, the USTC Particle Physics Computing Center is ultimately aiming to establish a level-2 site.The USTC high-performance grid computing platform consists of 64 Dell PE PowerEdgeTM M610 blade servers, 4 Dell PowerEdgeTM R710 rack servers, 2 Dell PowerEdgeTM R900 servers, 4 MD 1000 storage arrays, CERN customized Scientific Linux CERN 4 (SLC4) operating system and GridView monitoring software. Currently, 90% of the project has been completed.The Dell China High Performance Computing Team has visited USTC many times. We are happy that researchers at USTC appreciate highly of Dell high performance computing platforms. Mr. Han Liang, professor of the Modern Physics Department of USTC, and the head of LCG grid system construction project, said: “Compared to the indigenously built computing platforms serving the various departments of USTC, the computing power of the new high-performance computing platform is 7-8 times higher, bringing the overall scientific research computation capacity of our school to a new level. Besides, as an integral part of the LCG network, high-performance grid computing platform developed by USTC transforms the computing capacity from ‘limited’ to ‘infinite’.”Professor Zhao Zhengguo, director of Particle Physics and Technology Center, USTC, an internationally renowned high-energy and experimental particle physicist, and participant of the first national “Thousand People Program” in China, is confident about the future of the program. He said: “Each year, the operation of the Large Hadron Collider generates about 1,500 terabytes of data, equivalent to the capacity of 100,000 DVDs. Scientists all over the world want to analyze this data. We joined the LCG program, and built a high-performance computing grid platform with Dell blade servers, which has enabled us to analyze the above mentioned data along with thousands of scientists across the world, significantly improving the overall level and quality of our physics research.”We are happy to see Dell high performance computing platforms are benefiting USTC and other institutions and accelerating the launch of their scientific achievements. We hope Dell can provide high performance computing platforms to benefit more and more customers from different industries, and help them significantly improve productivity and efficiency of their respective scientific research projects.