IBM to Develop Software to Link Computers

IBM Corp. has struck a deal to link a U.S. government research laboratory’s far-flung computers in a powerful grid, massively boosting their ability to study complex issues such as global climate change.

Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM said last week it will work with the Department of Energy’s National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, based in Berkeley, on developing software to connect the lab’s supercomputers and data storage machines to other computers in four locations.

The center said its goal is to enable scientists to connect supercomputers and storage machines to off-site scientific instruments such as telescopes, making it easier to do research or analyze data stored in diverse locations.

In addition, scientists will be able to tap into computing power at far-flung locations, said Horst Simon, a research director at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. The lab has a 5 teraflop supercomputer, or one that can run 5 trillion operations per second, located in Berkeley.

IBM has said the new field of “grid computing” is one of its key computing strategies under new Chief Executive Sam Palmisano.

It said it saw numerous commercial uses for the technology, which will one day allow corporations such as financial institutions to tap into off-site computing power.