Fujitsu Limited, the Japan-based multinational IT firm headquartered in Tokyo, has reportedly announced that it has finished the deployment of ‘HOKUSAI – SailingShip’ at RIKEN’s novel data science infrastructure.

For the record, RIKEN is one of the leading research institutes in Japan with around 3,000 scientists. The institute has deployed this system to facilitate the processing and utilization of massive and top-quality research data created through research activities. After initial trial operation from June, the new system began operation on 19 October.

According to sources familiar with the knowledge of the matter, the new data infrastructure will not only offer an important IT environment needed by RIKEN users but will also contribute to promoting open science, which encourages the use of analysis methods and research data. It facilitates the strong processing and storage of large volumes of data in numerous experiments and simulations across a wider range of research areas.

Sources cite that HOKUSAI - SailingShip leverages 440 Fujitsu Server PRIMERGY CX2550 M5 units equipped with a 30-petabyte storage system and Mirantis Cloud Platform. This deployment is anticipated to advance the promotion of open science as well as disseminate research outcomes using numerous applications and data assets in combination with public clouds. With HOKUSAI - SailingShip, Fujitsu aims to offer robust support for the operation of the infrastructure ensuring a secure, safe, and convenient research environment.

In the course of increasing R&D activities in an extensive range of fields, including chemistry, physics, life science, and computational science, the institute needed an IT infrastructure that could execute small-scale simulations with the efficient allocation of  management capabilities and computing resources using public cloud. The institute also required a flexible system that could facilitate the processing and utilization of massive and top-quality research data.

To achieve the same, RIKEN inked an agreement with Fujitsu to deploy HOKUSAI - SailingShip to shift the paradigm from computer-oriented systems like traditional supercomputers to scale-out cloud systems. This system has commenced operations on October 19.

Source credit - https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2020/1019-01.html