Harnessing the power of supercomputing and collaborative research, Cyber Media Center at Osaka University stands as a beacon of technological advancement. This center’s story began in April 1969. It was initially established as the Computation Center. It served as a Joint Usage and Joint Research Center. Its mission was to manage computers and information. These resources supported education and research for universities and researchers nationwide.
The Joint Usage Computation Center emerged from a recommendation by the Science Council of Japan. Similar facilities were established at Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, Tokyo University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University and Kyushu University. This created a network of seven vital locations.
Over time, the center’s role expanded beyond its initial duties. It became a practical research base. It aimed to advance computerization. In 2000, a significant reorganization led to a name change. The Computation Center transformed into the Cybermedia Center, Osaka University. This reflected its focus on collaborative use of information technology.
Today, the Cyber Media Center is part of a network of seven information technology centers. These centers function as node schools of SINET. SINET is the Science Information Network. It is managed by the National Institute of Informatics. This network enables the sharing of computing resources. It fosters a closely-knit operating relationship among the centers.
The Cybermedia Commons, opened in May 2015, is on the first floor of the Cybermedia Center. It acts as an active learning space for students. It leverages information technology to support students’ learning and research activities. All Osaka University students and faculty can freely use the Cybermedia Commons. It is available when not reserved for special events like lectures and workshops.
The Cybermedia Commons is divided into six unique spaces. These spaces were inspired by ideas from a university-wide competition. These include the Visualization Laboratory, Fabrication Laboratory, Free space, e-Lounge, Meeting room and Cafe. Each space offers distinct resources and functionalities. The concierge provides details on how to use each space effectively.
In December 2020, the Cybermedia Center announced the introduction of a new supercomputer system. It was developed in cooperation with NEC Corporation. This system replaces older systems. It commenced operations in May 2021.
Named SQUID which is short for Supercomputer for Quest for Unsolved Interdisciplinary Datascience, the new supercomputer system addresses interdisciplinary data science challenges. It supports researchers in both academia and industry throughout Japan. The Cybermedia Center is working alongside NEC, Intel, NVIDIA, and others to construct this advanced system.
SQUID boasts impressive specifications. It features 1,520 general-purpose CPU nodes, each with a 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor. Additionally, it includes 42 GPU nodes equipped with eight NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs. These GPUs accelerate AI, data analytics, HPC, and visualization workloads. 36 VECTOR nodes each feature eight NEC SX-Aurora TSUBASA units. These enable faster simulations of weather, seismic activity, and other phenomena.
The Cybermedia Center’s supercomputer system offers a secure computing environment. It allows users to work with confidential data safely. The system also provides cloud bursting capabilities. This enables on-demand use of cloud services like Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Microsoft Azure.
From its origins as a computation hub to its current role as a cutting-edge cybermedia center, this institution has significantly contributed to technological advancement and collaborative research. The Cyber Media Center continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the growing computational needs. It contributes to future research analysis.