User: eschnett Date: 2011/02/14 09:35 AM
Modified: / ET.tex
Log: Add Simfactory section
File Changes:
Directory: / ============
File [modified]: ET.tex Delta lines: +30 -1 =================================================================== --- ET.tex 2011-02-14 15:14:39 UTC (rev 25) +++ ET.tex 2011-02-14 15:35:14 UTC (rev 26) @@ -346,8 +346,37 @@ NSF awards \todo{list them somewhere}.
\subsection{Simulation Factory} -\todo{1/3 page Erik}
+It is unfortunate that today's supercomputers differ significantly in +their hardware configuration, available software, directory structure, +queueing system, queuing policiy, and many other user-visible +properties. In addition, the system architectures and user interfaces +offered by supercomputers are very different to those offered by +laptops or workstations. This makes performing large, +three-dimensional and time-dependent simulations a complex and time +consuming task with a steep learning curve. However, most of these +differences are only superficial, and the basic capabilities of +supercomputers are very similar; most of the complexity of managing +simulations lies in menial tasks that require no physical or numerical +insight. + +The Simulation Factory \cite{Thomas:2010aa, SimFactory:web} offers a +set of abstractions for the tasks necessary to set up and successfully +finish numerical simulations based on the Cactus framework. These +abstractions hide tedious low-level management operations, they +capture ``best practices'' of experienced users, and they create a log +trail ensuring repeatable and well-documented scientific results. +Using these abstractions, most operations are much simplified, many +types of potentially disastrous user errors are avoided, and different +supercomputers can be used in a uniform manner. + +Using the Simulation Factory, we are able to offer a tutorial for the +Einstein Toolkit \todo{cite} that lets new users download, configure, +build, and run full simulations of the coupled Einstein/relativistic +hydrodynamics equations on a supercomputer with a few simple commands. +The exact same set of commands can be used on all other supported +supercomputers to run the same simulation there. + \subsection{Kranc} \todo{1/3 page Ian}