Sun Microsystems Centre of Excellence
The University of Otago has achieved a coup by becoming
the first university outside of the United States to be selected as a Sun Microsystems OpenSPARC Centre of
Excellence.
Sun Microsystems is one of the world’s most advanced computer vendors, developing innovative products and services that power the network economy. OpenSPARC focuses on the development of both hardware and software to meet rapidly-growing demand for computer chips containing multiple processors, known as multi-core.
Sun Microsystems has OpenSPARC Technology Centre of Excellence relationships with only seven universities worldwide: University of California – Santa Cruz, University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University and now the University of Otago.
The relationship is a prestigious recognition of Otago’s expertise in computer architecture, networking and parallel computing. It also allows Otago access to the OpenSPARC community and access for staff and students to equipment and technical expertise.
Otago Computer Science researcher Dr Zhiyi Huang and Information Science Head of Department Professor Martin Purvis are part of the Otago team working on several projects of interest to Sun Microsystems – the most high-profile being the Virtual Aggregated Processor, or VAP. VAP is based on building virtualisation software to utilise the power of the new generation multi-core computer chips.
Professor Purvis says the relationship is about more than prestige. “It also gives us a relationship with Sun’s research labs and opens doors to interact with the other universities.”
Dr Huang says his VAP work involves developing tools that will significantly reduce the burden on computer programmers of using the parallel programming techniques needed to harness the full potential of multicore computers.
“Parallel programming has a long history but is very difficult. We are confident that VAP will be a New Zealandled solution to help the computer industry manage the fundamental change of multi-core computers, replacing the existing single core technology.”