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Centre for High Performance Computing SA

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Introduction

The Centre for High-Performance Computing (CHPC) is a part of the National Integrated Cyber Infrastructure System (NICIS). The CHPC offers facilities to academic and industry researchers to process data and perform complex calculations. The CHPC is part of the | National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System(NCIS) and is supported by the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), TENET and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). South Africa, in 2016, joined the petaflop club when the fastest computer in Africa was unveiled[1]. Called Lengau, which is a Setswana word for Cheetah[2].

High-Performance Computing

High-performance computing (HPC) is measured in terms of FLOPS floating point operations per second (FLOPS). HPC are fast and can process thousand-trillion calculations (a petaflop)[3]. HPC servers have vast amounts of every type of resource that can bought. Every CHPC is different, as much of the configuration depends on the vendor and their budget. Neighbouring countries, research centres and universities can use Lengau to advance scientific discovery, while commercial firms can also improve their efficiency or competitiveness. The CHPC is a key player in making national data-intensive research infrastructure accessible across the research and higher education sectors.[4]

Means of Production

In the global north, the private sector has access to the means of production and can process large-scale data sets, big data analytics & algorithmic data science methods on their HPC infrastructure. HPCs act as methodological gatekeepers, prescribing what forms of educational data science and methodological capital is permitted[5]. Unlike HPC infrastructures in the global north, where the means of production often lies with for-profit companies[6] or well-resourced private universities like Stanford. The CHPC (https://www.chpc.ac.za/) is state-owned and prioritises computational resources and application support for any compute-intensive or machine-learning algorithms.[7] The CPHC collaborates and shares computational clusters with neighbouring countries in the SADC region[8], to develop relevant human capital.

  1. ^ https://www.top500.org/news/south-africa-joins-petaflop-club/
  2. ^ https://www.chpc.ac.za/south-african-chpc-unveils-lengau-supercomputer/
  3. ^ https://www.dst.gov.za/index.php/component/content/article?id=1813:minister-pandor-congratulates-the-csir-s-chpc-for-unveiling-the-fastest-computing-system-in-africa&catid=46&Itemid=101
  4. ^ https://www.technologynetworks.com/informatics/articles/how-south-africa-chpc-responded-to-unprecedented-computing-needs-to-address-the-covid-19-pandemic-348132
  5. ^ Williamson, Ben (2017-05). "Who owns educational theory? Big data, algorithms and the expert power of education data science". E-Learning and Digital Media. 14 (3): 105–122. doi:10.1177/2042753017731238. ISSN 2042-7530. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Williamson, Ben (2017-05). "Who owns educational theory? Big data, algorithms and the expert power of education data science". E-Learning and Digital Media. 14 (3): 105–122. doi:10.1177/2042753017731238. ISSN 2042-7530. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ https://www.nicis.ac.za/
  8. ^ "Advancing High-Performance Computing in South Africa: The CHPC".
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