A dedicated data center has been assembled and successfully tested at the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF) scientific mega-facility in the science town of Koltsovo near Novosibirsk. Developed by RSK Group, a Russian company specializing in supercomputer manufacturing, the complex is ready for operation and will serve as a core element of the synchrotron center's computing infrastructure.
Cluster Performance and Architecture
The computational core of the new data center delivers a performance of 390 teraflops in FP64 double-precision calculations. The cluster comprises 24 servers, with an architecture built on modern processors and GPU accelerators. In addition to compute nodes, the complex includes server and network equipment, as well as a storage system designed to handle large arrays of experimental data.
Liquid Cooling as a Prerequisite for Reliability
All 24 servers of the computing cluster are equipped with a direct liquid cooling system. According to the developers, this solution enhances equipment energy efficiency, ensures stable operation under heavy loads, and reduces noise levels in the machine room—a critical factor for round-the-clock operations.
Why the Synchrotron Needs a Supercomputer
Computing power is essential for the continuous real-time processing of experimental results. The SKIF experimental stations operate 24/7, requiring a constant stream of computations and the storage of large volumes of information.
Facility Parameters
SKIF is a generation 4+ synchrotron radiation source with an energy of 3 gigaelectronvolts (GeV). The project occupies a 30-hectare plot of land, with a main accelerator ring perimeter of 476 meters.
Evaluation and Outlook
RSK General Director Alexander Moskovsky stated that the new supercomputer surpasses many computing systems at other Russian research centers in terms of performance. The design of the complex also incorporates provisions for future upgrades and the expansion of computing capacities as operational demands grow.
