1. Research Computing Survey Results
January 2007
Common Solutions Group Meeting
Bill Clebsch, Stanford University

2. 2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results
Agenda
Survey Purpose
Participation Rates
Survey Overview
Results Overview
What Do the Results Suggest/Tell Us
12/29/2018
2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

3. 2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results
Survey Purpose
Identify current context of Research Computing
Document Research Computing baselines
Ask about Research Computing directions
Pinpoint collaboration opportunities
Inform long term strategies and plans
12/29/2018
2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

4. 26 CSG Member Schools Participated
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Indiana University
MIT
New York University
Penn State University
Princeton
Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Delaware
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Southern California
University of Texas, Austin
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Virginia Tech
Yale University
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

5. Overview of the Research Computing Survey
Current Context
Governance
Data Center Facilities
Network Capacity
Ability to Keep Pace with Needs
Infrastructure Support Baseline
Funding Methods
Infrastructure Support Services Model
Storage
Central IT Staff Support Baseline
Length of Time Provided Staff Support
Services that Staff Provide
Number of Staff Involved
Directions
Fastest Areas of Growth
Factors Influencing Central Data Center Use
Addressing Regulatory Change
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

6. The Questions Current Context for Research Computing
Governance
Does your University have a governance/oversight group focused on Research Computing policy/funding?
Top Issue: Data Center Facilities
What is the campus perception of the top issue facing your central Data Center facilities related to Research Computing?
Top Issue: Network Capacity
What is the campus perception of network capacity as an issue in Research Computing?
Ability to Keep Pace with Needs
Do you have capacity to meet the current pace of demand for Data Center utilization?
12/29/2018
2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

7. Survey Response Current Context for Research Computing
Governance
78% See value in having a governance/oversight group for Research Computing
26% have an active and useful group in place
52% don’t have one and wish they did
Top Issue: Data Center Facilities
50% Say the central Data Center needs to be upgraded in order to better meet needs
35% Indicate that central solution is not desired by researchers
15% Say they are currently serving campus needs
Top Issue: Network Capacity
70% Indicate the campus networks have no capacity issues and are widely used
Ability to Keep Pace with Needs
60% Have Data Center expansion and/or rebuild plans to address utilization and capacity expectations
16% have funded plans
44% have plans; have not received funding
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

8. The Questions: Infrastructure Support Baseline for Research Computing
Funding Methods
Research Computing in the central IT Data Center is usually funded through one or more of the following methods, please indicate the approximate percentage each method is used at your University?
Infrastructure Support Services Model
Does your school currently provide Research Computing support in its central Data Center?
Thinking of your central IT Data Center, please indicate your current mix of support services for Research Computing?
For each area (CPU, Storage, Staff Support), indicate its importance to your Research Computing efforts today.
Storage
How are storage needs met for Research Computing in the central IT Data Center?
12/29/2018
2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

9. 2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results
Survey Response: Infrastructure Support Baseline for Research Computing
Funding Methods
“Funded by Researcher Only” or the “Funded by Researcher, School, and University” are the research computing funding method used by most
Infrastructure Support Services Model
Just Hosting – providing only floor space, cooling and power – is the most common support model used in Data Centers
This is no discernable difference between the remaining support services models
Hosting servers with minimal sys admin/DBA support
Hosting servers with full sys admin/DBA support
Hosting large shared computing resources as a service
Ad hoc use of central storage allocation and researcher owned/housed storage arrays is the dominant storage model in use today
Storage is the most important concern going forward - followed closely by CPU cycles
Storage
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

10. The Questions: Staff Support Baseline for Research Computing
Central IT Provides Staff Support
How long has central IT offered Research Computing staff support?
Central IT Staff Support Services Model
Which of the following represent your Research Computing central IT staff support areas?
Central IT FTE Allocation
How many centralized IT staff FTE support your Research Computing efforts today?
Over the past three years the number of centralized IT staff supporting Research Computing has …
12/29/2018
2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

11. Survey Response: Staff Support Baseline for Research Computing
Central IT Provides Staff Support
46% Central IT provides staff support
Central IT Staff Support Services Model
86% Staff monitor facilities and power
68% Offer options for system administration support
45% Support technology portion of grant development
Central IT Staff Support Services Model
27% Central IT provides 0 FTE of staff support
58% Central IT provides 1-10 FTE of staff support
15% Central IT provides 10+ FTE of staff support
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

12. Research Computing Staff Support The Last 3 Years, The Next 3 Years
Staffing: The Last 3 Years
64% Reported staffing stayed the same
Staffing: The Next 3 Years
42% Predict staffing will grow up to 25%
11% Predict staffing will grow by more than 11%
What do our other predictions reveal?
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

13. The Questions Research Computing Directions
Fastest Areas of Growth
Which areas (CPU, Storage, Staff Support) do you think will have the fastest growth over the next three years?
Over the next three years, the number of centralized IT staff supporting Research Computing is expected to …
Factors Influencing Central Data Center Use
How important is each factor in influencing a researcher’s decision to use the central IT Data Center facilities on your campus?
Addressing Regulatory Change
Some funding agencies plan to institute guidelines which will require PIs to keep their data publicly available for up to 20 years. Where are you in your preparation for this pending change?
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

14. Survey Response Research Computing Directions
Fastest Areas of Growth
(Predicted for next 3 years)
86% Staff monitor facilities and power
68% Offer options for system administration support
45% Support technology portion of grant development
Factors Influencing Central Data Center Use
Cost is the top factor
Control is becoming a distant second
Addressing Regulatory Change
Pending funding requirement – research data must publicly available up to 20 years
27% Are prepared today for this pending change
54% Started the discussion, no approach defined
19% No ability exists, no plans to change the situation
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

15. Importance Ratings: Factors Influencing Data Center Use
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

16. So… How Does this Data Inform Our Series of Panels ?
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

17. Drivers and Changes in Hosting Research Computing Panel
Hosting expectations continue to grow … modern facilities, CPU and storage solutions will need to exist
Support requirements are more complex … one size does not fit all, researchers expect to select solutions from a menu of offerings
from “just the power and cooling please”
to “super-computing-size me”
Staffing strategy implications – new skills are needed to support grant development, provide analytical support
Panel Discussion Leaders:
Pat Dreher, Jim Pepin, Tim Gleason, Bruce Vincent
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

18. Developing and Funding Cyberinfrastructure Panel
We indicated the top factor influencing the researcher’s decision to use central Data Centers is COST
To fund Data Center costs today, we use some combination of funding models
What behaviors and decisions do we want to incent?
When is central funding the right answer?
Panel Discussion Leaders:
Kevin Morooney, Earv Blythe, Bill Clebsch, Jim Jokl
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

19. Research Computing Governance Panel
More than 50% said we wish we had a working governance structure
What can those with working models in place tell us (best practice and practical advice!)
What is on our wish list of ways to leverage such a model
Identify additional questions, considerations?
Panel Discussion Leaders:
Brad Wheeler, Jim Pepin, Dave Vernon, Phil Reese
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2006 CSG Research Computing Survey Results

20. Discussion & Panels
Bill Clebsch