Policy: FysikDatorn administrates and maintains the ethernet-based backbone of the network that is connected to Chalmers campus backbone via a router. The definition and specification of the skeleton network is described in the network document. As our major concern is high reliability of the operation of the network, FysikDatorn has the full responsibility and control over all connections made to the backbone network. FysikDatorn may disconnect equipment whose software or hardware disturbs the reliability or security of the network without any notice. FysikDatorn gives advice to groups on matters regarding ethernet-based networks.
Integration of personal computers (Macs or PCs) into the network is up to individual users. FysikDatorn supports the backbone up to and including an ethernet tap. We do not take any responsibility for operability of networking software of any kind, but supervise and govern the configuration of any Internet protocol stack implementation (IP driver).
Financing : The network backbone is financed by the School of Physics, but the Chalmers Computer Network Group (CDG) charges for access to the campus wide network and to the Internet for each connected workstation or personal computer. Group networks connected to the backbone network are financed by the individual groups.
Policy: The FysikDatorn administrates and maintains a few common UNIX-based computers which are running under a single UNIX operating system. The intention is to provide basic, standard resources and functionality for computer-based scientific and pedagogic activities, and also to provide limited user disk space that is regularly backed-up.
The common computer resource comprises:
The functions include:
At present this facility is realized on Sun workstations running SunOS 5.x (Solaris 2.x).
Normally, every employee or long term guest at the School of Physics who accepts the "Responsible computer user declaration" is entitled to have an account on this computer resource. The students of the School of Physics are entitled to have an account at the student computer lab (DjungelData) and do not normally get an account on this system. A student may get an account on this system if he/she by decision of his/her supervisor has to have access to their group's UNIX workstations (see below) integrated into this system and accepts the "Responsible computer user declaration". Guest accounts with very limited access are provided on per-group basis for short term guests. We are very concerned about computer security, so any misuse of the system (like sharing the password with another individual) will immediately lead to disabling of the account without any further notice. This allows us to immediately respond to a suspected intrusion (which has occurred in the past).
Disk space larger than that provided by a default free quota (currently about 30 MB) for a user can be provided either by renting a disk space for a short term or purchasing a disk that is maintained and backed up by FysikDatorn.
Financing: The common computer resource is financed by the School of Physics while resources for extra disk space are financed at prime cost by the user. Hardware costs have also been subsidized by NFR.
Policy: By centrally maintaining and coordinating the departments' computers, considerable cost savings in both money and time are available to individual researchers and teachers. However, by taking care of the equipment, only the FysikDatorn system managers must have root privileges on the mainained equipment. Furthermore, we insist that the necessary software licenses and hardware service contracts exist. The degree of integration and cost of operation depends on which type (clone) of UNIX operating system is running on the workstation.
At present, we administrate and maintain, to varying degrees of integration, the following platforms:
Policy: An objective of FysikDatorn is to provide or ease access to and use of computer resources for numerically intensive computing. However, we do not have the funds ourselves to provide state -of-the-art computing. Thus, this must involve cooperation with groups and organizations outside the School of Physics, and we can assist in this matter.
At present, resources for numerically intensive computing is provided through the consortium of heavy computing (UNICC) and we hope that, in the future, it can be provided in part by the distributed computing environment of group workstations and public workstations. To the extent that the NFR budget allows, we hope to provide some ultrafast workstation(s) in the future when we can recognize a cost effective and versatile platform.
Financing: The numerically intensive computing resources are financed by the users. The costs associated with the use of UNICC resources are listed here.
Policy: The FysikDatorn provides limited user support through a limited number of contact hours, a help function via E-mail and providing an access to online documentation and manuals. We do not have the resources to provide full user support. In general, we expect users to have acquired basic computer skills in their undergraduate training. If there is a demand for it, we can arrange seminars and courses, not only about our own resources, but also on new developments and techniques.
Financing: The user support is financed by the School of Physics.