The OptIPuter, so named for its use of Optical networking, Internet Protocol, computer storage, processing and visualization technologies, is an envisioned infrastructure that will tightly couple computational resources over parallel optical networks using the IP communication mechanism. The OptIPuter exploits a new world in which the central architectural element is optical networking, not computers - creating "supernetworks". This paradigm shift requires large-scale applications-driven, system experiments and a broad multidisciplinary team to understand and develop innovative solutions for a "LambdaGrid" world. The goal of this new architecture is to enable scientists who are generating terabytes and petabytes of data to interactively visualize, analyze, and correlate their data from multiple storage sites connected to optical networks.

The OptIPuter's broad multidisciplinary team is conducting large-scale, application-driven system experiments with two data-intensive e-science efforts to ensure a useful and usable OptIPuter design: EarthScope, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

• Optiputer @ SC06: More information here.
• All Hands Meeting and Open House 01.21.2007-01.23.2007: More information here.
• Calit2 News Release: Live Demonstration of 21st Century National-Scale Team Science: UCSD and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Linked Using OptIPuter Technologies over a 10-Gbps National LambdaRail Dedicated Optical Path (here)
• The OptIPuter page: SIO @ iGrid 2005 here.
• Access the OptIPuter annual report here.
• Access Power Point slides and peripheral materials for the 29-30 June 2004 NSF site visit here.

The OptIPuter receives major funding from the National Science Foundation, cooperative agreement ANI-0225642 to UCSD. For More information, visit: www.optiputer.net

Site Last Updated: February 14, 2007