This white paper is an IBM case study.The German Climate Computing Center implemented an IBM solution to built one of the world's largest data archives using HPSS (High Performance Storage System). The new archive solution enabled them to manage the enormous data volumes that researchers are obtaining on increasingly faster computers. The outstanding scalability and high-performance integration in the POWER6 cluster from IBM were the deciding factors in selecting the HPSS System. Visit http://on.fb.me/LT4gdu to 'Like' the official Facebook page of IBM India Smarter Computing.

1. Let’s build a smarter planet
From sound simulations
to accurate climate
diagnoses
The German Climate Computing Center [Deutsches
Klimarechenzentrum or DKRZ] is establishing the
requirements for precise climate research with IT
support from IBM
Nature is unpredictable, or is it? Together with IBM, the German
Overview Climate Computing Center (DKRZ) is shaking up this paradigm.
The need As a central service facility for scientific climate research, the DKRZ
The DKRZ guarantees first-class climate is pursuing the question of how the global climate will develop in the
research by providing the highest
future. By using the most modern IT architecture, it is constantly
computing power, sophisticated
management of the largest data volumes advancing our knowledge of the environment. Infinite potential climate
and competent service. scenarios are created and analyzed here using high performance
The solution computers. In this process, the simulations are meant to contribute to
HLRE 2 with the largest IBM POWER6® developing suitable measures for adequately addressing climate change
system in Germany; construction of challenges. With the goal of being able to successfully intervene, scientists
one of the world’s largest data archives are researching the influence that humans have on our increasingly
using HPSS.
changing world. The status report of the UN’s IPCC [Intergovernmental
Why the solution is intelligent Panel on Climate Change], which appears regularly every few years, is
HLRE 2’s computing power is 60 times prepared based on computer-supported climate simulations that are being
greater than that of the previous model and
thus allows more detailed and smaller- performed on the computers at the DKRZ, among others. The report
scale climate forecasts to be prepared than summarizes current scientific opinions on climate change and thus
ever before. The extremely powerful and establishes the basis for appropriate action on a political level.
scalable HPSS archive system with a huge
band storage capacity designed
specifically to meet the requirements of the Exorbitant data volumes and computing power
DKRZ manages climate simulation data Whether on land, in the water or on ice: Researchers the world over are
and makes it easy for the earth system
researchers to call up the data. working feverishly to analyze climate data. Samples are being taken,
surveys are being performed, and the results recorded. However, this data
The benefits alone does not mean much. Only by comparing it with climate simulations
Increase in scientific knowledge for earth
system research due to the preparation
developments and trends become understandable on a global scale.
and analysis of complex models in the For such climate simulations the best and most modern supercomputers
global climate system and therefore the are required. Their performance directly impact the accuracy of the
basis for preventive as well as intervention
forecasts for the future climate changes on our planet. Not only exorbitant
measures with regard to worldwide
climate change. volumes of data have to be processed for research purposes, it has to be
stored and retrieved over the long term. The requirements of the DKRZ
for its data archive are very high due to their importance as a central
resource for earth system research. Research results stored there are used
by scientists from around the world. Intelligent networking makes it
possible to pool global knowledge. In addition to the constantly growing
data volumes, the demand for computing power and the data archive is
also on the rise. With the most modern and powerful systems from IBM,
DKRZ is now equipped to face this challenge.

2. Let’s build a smarter planet
Coordinating and implementing
“The new archive a superlative project
In order to create even higher quality and more accurate climate
solution enables us to simulations, the DKRZ decided to install one of the most powerful
manage the enormous super computers available on the market. The HLRE 2 (High Performance
data volumes that Computer for Earth System Research) built using an IBM POWER6
cluster. To optimally use the resources and to adapt the customers’
researchers are obtaining simulation programs to the new IT architecture, IBM first performed an
on increasingly faster application benchmark. With the help of the POWER6 cluster, DKRZ
computers. The was able to achieve a total throughput rate 60 times greater than the
previous model. The increased performance directly impacts the quality
outstanding scalability of the forecasts because they enable considerably more of the processes
and high-performance that occur in our environment to be reproduced. Furthermore, the data
integration in the archive had to be enlarged and modernized. This was the first time in
Germany that IBM introduced the data storage solution HPSS (High
POWER6 cluster from Performance Storage System) – an innovative technology that was
IBM were the deciding co-developed by IBM. Within only five months the project of superlatives
factors in selecting the was able to be put into action. At the same time the DKRZ was moving
into a new building, both the POWER6 system and the HPSS were
HPSS System.” installed. In a matter of just a few weeks, technicians managed to build
the POWER6 system with more than 260 servers and countless racks.
— Ulf Garternicht, Systems department
manager at DKRZ.
IBM laid several kilometers of wires and developed the basis for water
cooling the system. Once IBM had finished installing the super
[Source: PI “German Climate Research computer, it proceeded with installing the HPSS.
Center DKRZ begins operating one of the
world’s largest data archives,” July 2009]
Like POWER6, the hardware used in the HPSS is also from IBM.
However the set up of the data archive is mainly a service; storage systems
of this magnitude are unique. That is why IBM initially determined the
precise requirements of the DKRZ during numerous workshops and
thereby developed suitable implementation strategies. Since it was
necessary to transfer 32,000 magnetic tapes without having to copy a byte
IBM developed a special software to migrate the data as quickly as
possible from the old to the new system. The inventory data was migrated
with the help of the software within just two weeks; without it, this would
have taken years. As a basis for this migration IBM technicians created a
directory of the old tapes in the new digital archive. The tapes can be
read using the customized software. Once the data is accessed, they are
unobtrusively re-written for the user in the HPSS format without delay.
To benefit from synergy effects, the HPSS is integrated into the new

3. Let’s build a smarter planet
super computer. Due to the additional configuration as an independent
system, it can be used above and beyond its service life. Ulf Garternicht,
“The accuracy of climate Systems department manager at DKRZ: “The new archive solution now
simulations is heavily enables us to manage the enormous data volumes that climate researchers
dependent on the available are obtaining on increasingly faster computers. The outstanding scalability
and high-performance integration in the POWER6 cluster from IBM
computing power. The were the deciding factors in selecting the HPSS System.” IBM maintains
new computer enables us the entire solution on site and the company’s know-how and expertise are
to record considerably available to the DKRZ as part of a five-year agreement.
more processes and
Regional, national, global: improved
smaller-scale phenomena forecasts for climate changes
than ever before.” Today, the DKRZ manages a considerably higher data volume than was
ever possible with the previous system. Furthermore, the HPSS offers the
— Dr. Joachim Biercamp, Applications necessary storage capacity to record processes from the complex climate
department manager at DKRZ and earth system with increasingly realistic as well as highly developed
[Source: Video DKRZ] numerical models. With 60-times more power than the predecessor
model, the POWER6 system opens up completely new opportunities for
the DKRZ. Dr. Joachim Biercamp, Applications department manager at
DKRZ: “The accuracy of climate simulations is heavily dependent on the
available computing power. The new computer enables us to record
considerably more processes and smaller-scale phenomena than ever
Digitalized
before.” With a peak output of more than 150 TeraFlops, which is more
Efficient management and reliable access
to large data volumes help scientists gain than 150 billion computing operations per second, the HLRE 2 ranks
new insights in the development of the among the world’s largest super computers used for scientific and
global and regional climate. Furthermore, research purposes. The entire system is operated from electricity
the new super computer enables climate
models to be calculated more precisely. generated by renewable energy. The new solution from the super
computer and the data archive enables us to better understand climatic
Networked
events and environmental processes. Due to the enormous computing
The HPSS essentially manages data that
are generated by climate simulations. The power, the climate model has a higher spatial resolution and contains
data volumes amount to ten thousand more processes which previously were only able to be parameterized
terabytes that are split up into millions of inaccurately. With the aid of the archived data, developments and future
files. In order to be able to store data as
quickly as possible, the archive system is
tendencies can be understood easier and be prognosticated more
integrated into the new super computer. profound. With this new knowledge researchers are developing and
building suitable strategies to slow climate change. This successful
Intelligent
symbiosis between scientific expertise at the DKRZ and highly modern
The solution gives the DKRZ the necessary
storage capacity to manage the data and IBM technology is therefore helping us to better understand the complex
to realistically record complex processes processes of our environment, protect it better, and to preserve it as a
within the climate and earth system. home to all living things.
The HLRE 2 provides the necessary IT
resources to create detailed simulations
and thereby more precise forecasts
concerning climate development.

4. Solution components
• Hardware
–– IBM® Power® 550
–– IBM Power 575
–– IBM System Storage® DS5300
–– IBM System Storage EXP5000 © Copyright IBM Corporation 2010
• Software IBM Systems and Technology Group
–– IBM AIX® Route 100
–– General Parallel File System™ (GPFS™) Somers, New York 10589
U.S.A.
–– Tivoli® Storage Manger
• Services Produced in the United States of America
October 2010
–– IBM Global Technology Services All Rights Reserved
IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com. Let’s Build a Smarter Planet
Business use and Smarter Planet are trademarks or registered trademarks
of of International Business Machines Corporation in
• The new computer enables DKRZ to record considerably more processes the United States, other countries, or both. If these and
and smaller-scale phenomena than ever before other IBM trademarked terms are marked on their first
• Scalable archiving solution to manage constantly increasing data volumes occurrence in this information with a trademark symbol
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• Overall, the IT architecture from the HLRE 2 and HPSS allows for a information was published. Such trademarks may also be
better research of the earth system processes. Climate forecasts are registered or common law trademarks in other countries.
A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web
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are subject to change, extension or withdrawal without
notice. All client examples cited represent how some
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