(Super)computing within integrated e-Infrastructures
FABIO PASIAN · MSAIS · 2009
Also in the case of astrophysics, the capability of performing “Big Science” requires the availability of advanced computing: large HPC facilities and a Grid infrastructure. But computational resources alone are far from being enough for the community. A whole set of e-infrastructures (network, computing nodes, data repositories, applications) need to interoperate smoothly. In this paper, after a survey of the situation in Europe and Italy in the fields of Grid and HPC, the data processing and simulations of the Planck mission are described as a practical example of the complexity of astrophysics applications. The need is evidenced for a complex e-Infrastructure for astrophysics, combining applications, data, computing, network within an integrated view, in which the Virtual Observatory is expected to bring in its own standards, tools and facilities.