VSC-2

The hard- and software installation is finished.

The performance tests (i.e. benchmarks) have been successfully completed according to the rules of the bid.

However, the following issues are still pending, which delay the start of the user operation:

1.) The energy installations (high-voltage power supply and cooling) are currently only provisional with too little capacity. Furthermore, at present power outages are required on a regular basis (about once per week).

2.) The currently installed memory modules do not fulfill the required quality specifications. This causes instabilities which do not allow a reasonable regular operation. All memory modules are going to be replaced by the vendor. The replacement is already under way and the modules are being put to a quality test by AMD at present. First tests with the new modules in 45 nodes in the VSC-2 are promising.

We therefore assume that user operation on the VSC-2 will start in September.

(Announcement posted on 02.08.2011.)