Table of Contents
Introduction
In the world of high-performance computing (HPC), supercomputers play a vital role in solving complex problems that require enormous amounts of computational power. India’s foray into supercomputing began in the late 1980s with the setting up of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), which aimed to develop indigenous supercomputing technologies.
Over the years, India has made significant strides in the field of HPC, with the development of several high-performance computing systems. Two of the most powerful supercomputers in India are Pratyush and Mihir Supercomputers, commissioned in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at these two supercomputers, their capabilities, and the impact they are making in the field of HPC.
Pratyush: India’s fastest supercomputers
Pratyush, which means “the sun” in Sanskrit, is India’s fastest supercomputer, commissioned in January 2018. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and it is located in Pune, Maharashtra. Pratyush is a Cray XC40 system, with a peak performance of 6.8 petaflops (PF), making it the fourth-fastest supercomputer in the world at the time of its commissioning.
Pratyush is primarily used for weather and climate research, as well as for studying the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and land surface. The supercomputer’s computing power is harnessed for developing high-resolution weather and climate models, which can help predict extreme weather events, such as cyclones, floods, and droughts. It is also used for simulating the impact of climate change on various ecosystems, including agriculture and fisheries.
Pratyush is a complex system, consisting of 4,096 compute nodes, each with 64 Intel Xeon processors and 384 GB of memory. It also has 320 NVIDIA Tesla P100 graphics processing units (GPUs), which are used for accelerating certain types of computations, such as deep learning and machine learning. The system is interconnected with a high-speed Infiniband network, which enables fast communication between the to compute nodes.
In addition to its impressive computing power, Pratyush is also designed to be energy-efficient. It has a liquid-cooled system, which reduces its energy consumption and makes it more environmentally friendly. The supercomputer’s energy consumption is around 4 megawatts (MW), which is relatively low compared to other supercomputers with similar computing power.
Mihir: India’s first indigenously built supercomputer
Mihir, which means “sunbeam” in Sanskrit, is India’s first indigenously built supercomputer, commissioned in February 2019. It is a joint initiative of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Bombay and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), and it is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Mihir is a PARAM Shivay system, with a peak performance of 833 teraflops (TF), making it one of the fastest supercomputers in India.
Mihir is primarily used for scientific research in areas such as materials science, computational fluid dynamics, and bioinformatics. The supercomputer’s computing power is harnessed for simulating complex systems, such as the behavior of materials at the atomic level, the flow of fluids through complex geometries, and the interaction of proteins and other biomolecules.
Mihir is a highly parallel system, consisting of 3,402 compute nodes, each with two 22-core Intel Xeon processors and 192 GB of memory. The system is interconnected with a high-speed Infiniband network, which enables fast communication between the to compute nodes. Mihir also has 80 NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPUs, which are used for accelerating certain types of computations, such as deep learning and machine learning.
One of the notable features of Mihir is that it is built entirely with indigenous components, including processors, interconnects, and storage systems. This is a significant achievement for India, as it demonstrates the country’s capability to design and manufacture high-performance computing systems locally. Mihir is also designed to be energy-efficient, with a power consumption of around 300 kilowatts (kW), making it one of the most power-efficient supercomputers in India.
Impact of Pratyush and Mihir Supercomputer
Pratyush and Mihir are both significant achievements for India in the field of HPC. They demonstrate the country’s capability to design, build, and operate high-performance computing systems that are on par with those developed by other countries. These supercomputers have already made significant contributions to scientific research in India, particularly in the fields of weather and climate research, materials science, computational fluid dynamics, and bioinformatics.
One of the main benefits of these supercomputers is that they enable researchers to simulate complex systems that are difficult or impossible to study experimentally. For example, Pratyush is used for developing weather and climate models that can help predict extreme weather events, such as cyclones, floods, and droughts. These models can provide valuable information to policymakers and disaster management authorities, enabling them to take proactive measures to minimize the impact of such events.
Mihir is used for simulating the behavior of materials at the atomic level, which can help researchers develop new materials with unique properties, such as high strength, durability, or conductivity. These materials can have a wide range of applications, from aerospace to electronics, and can lead to the development of new technologies that can benefit society.
In addition to their scientific contributions, Pratyush and Mihir also have significant economic benefits. They provide opportunities for researchers and students to develop skills in HPC, which can be applied in a wide range of industries, such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.
They can also attract investment and collaborations from international partners, which can lead to the development of new technologies and industries in India.
Pratyush and Mihir are not only significant achievements for India but also for the global HPC community. They have brought attention to India’s growing presence in the HPC field, and their design and construction demonstrate the country’s ability to compete with other countries in the development of advanced computing technologies.
Both supercomputers have been used for a wide range of research projects, including climate modeling, weather forecasting, materials science, fluid dynamics, and genomics. For example, Pratyush has been used to simulate the impact of climate change on the Indian monsoon. In contrast, Mihir has been used to study the properties of graphene, a highly promising material for next-generation electronics.
Pratyush and Mihir have also been used to support industries such as aerospace, automotive, and pharmaceuticals, which require high-performance computing to develop and test their products. The supercomputers have been made available to companies through India’s National Supercomputing Mission, which aims to make HPC facilities available to scientists, researchers, and industries across India.
In addition to their scientific and economic benefits, Pratyush and Mihir also serve as training grounds for the next generation of HPC researchers and engineers in India. The design and construction of these supercomputers require a high level of technical expertise, which can be developed through education and training programs. These programs can help build a skilled workforce that can drive innovation and economic growth in India.
Overall, Pratyush and Mihir represent a significant achievement for India in the field of HPC. They have already made significant contributions to scientific research, industry, and education in India, and they have the potential to continue to do so in the future. The success of these supercomputers demonstrates India’s growing presence in the global HPC community and highlights the country’s potential to be a leader in the development of advanced computing technologies.
Conclusion
Pratyush and Mihir are two of the most powerful supercomputers in India, with impressive computing power and energy efficiency. They have already made significant contributions to scientific research in India, particularly in the fields of weather and climate research, materials science, computational fluid dynamics, and bioinformatics.
These supercomputers demonstrate India’s capability to design, build, and operate high-performance computing systems that are on par with those developed by other countries.
They also have significant economic benefits, providing opportunities for researchers and students to develop skills in HPC and attracting investment and collaborations from international partners. Overall, Pratyush and Mihir are significant achievements for India in the field of HPC and have the potential to contribute to the country’s scientific and economic growth in the coming years.
