Computing Facilities

BIAC Computational Linux Cluster

BIAC's computational cluster, called Hugin, comprises dual head nodes and 61 compute nodes with a total of 456 CPU cores and 1760 GB of memory. The cluster is directly connected to BIAC's data storage server, which provides an ultra-high-speed central data store and an NFS-mounted operating system image. The cluster's expansion from its original 10-node configuration was made possible by a NCRR/NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant.

BIAC Data Storage Server

BIAC has a BlueArc Titan 2500 network storage server. The Titan is based on BlueArc's unique hardware-based operating system, which provides extremely high performance and reliability. BIAC's Titan, called Munin, is equipped with dual, clustered head nodes and 102 TB of enterprise class disk storage and is connected to the network via four 10-Gigabit Ethernet connections. Munin provides centralized data storage for the BIAC Cluster and all of the BIAC network.

Brain Imaging and Analysis Center Network

BIAC's network consists of eight data servers and approximately 100 Windows and Linux workstations connected by fifteen Gigabit Ethternet Cisco switches. BIAC's network is connected directly to the 10-Gigabit Duke Medical Center network backbone via full-duplex Gigabit Ethernet to a Cisco Catalyst 6509 switch. The Medical Center backbone is connected to the University network (DukeNet) backbone also via a Cisco Catalyst 6509 switch. DukeNet is connected to the North Carolina Networking Initiative's (NCNI) ultra-high-performance fiber-optic ring network, which connects Duke to MCNC at OC-48 speed (2.5 Gbits/sec). MCNC/NCNI provides connections to the Internet, Internet 2 (Abilene), and VBNS+.

Data Analysis Laboratories

BIAC has two data analysis laboratories that are available to collaborating investigators and students, one in Hock Plaza and one in Duke Hospital North. The labs contain 12 Windows-based workstations, each with 2 GB or more of RAM.