High Performance Computing and Networking as base element of the environmental information system UIS of Baden-Württemberg

Abstract

High Performance Computing and Networking have a long tradition in the state of Baden-Württemberg. They are intensively used in research and development but also through industry and state organisations. It was back in 1989 when the former president of Baden-Württemberg Lothar Späth recognized the practical relevance of HPCN for environmental management systems. Due to this a project was started which had the goal to integrate the CRAY-II computer of the University of Stuttgart as a compute server and the BELWÜ network as high speed data link into the environmental information system (UIS) of the state of Baden-Württemberg. This early integration of HPCN techniques into the UIS proved to be a major design decision and has influenced the development of the system considerably.