Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Computer Systems”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3

Obfuscation for high-performance computing systems

An example technique includes initializing, by an obfuscation computing system, communications with nodes in a distributed computing platform. The nodes include compute nodes that provide resources in the distributed computing platform and a controller node that performs resource management of the resources. The obfuscation computing system serves as an intermediary between the controller node and the compute nodes. The technique further includes outputting an interactive user interface (UI) providing a selection between a first privilege level and a second privilege level, and performing one of: based on the selection being for the first privilege level, a first obfuscation mechanism for the distributed computing platform to obfuscate digital traffic between a user computing system and the nodes, or based on the selection being for the second privilege level, a second obfuscation mechanism for the distributed computing platform to obfuscate digital traffic between the user computing system and the nodes.

Aloisio, Scott↗

Non-developmental item computer systems and the malicious software threat

The following subject areas are covered: a DOD development system - the Army Secure Operating System; non-development commercial computer systems; security, integrity, and assurance of service (SI and A); post delivery SI and A and malicious software; computer system unique attributes; positive feedback to commercial computer systems vendors; and NDI (Non-Development Item) computers and software safety.

Bown, Rodney L.↗

Impact of new computing systems on finite element computations

Recent advances in computer technology that are likely to impact finite element computations are reviewed. The characteristics of supersystems, highly parallel systems, and small systems (mini and microcomputers) are summarized. The interrelations of numerical algorithms and software with parallel architectures are discussed. A scenario is presented for future hardware/software environment and finite element systems. A number of research areas which have high potential for improving the effectiveness of finite element analysis in the new environment are identified.

Noor, A. K.↗

Special Issue on Data-Intensive Scalable Computing Systems

Traditional high performance computing (HPC) systems were designed from a compute-centric perspective, with an emphasis on high floating point performance. As scientific and analytics applications become more data intensive, there is a need to rethink HPC system architectures, programming models, runtime systems, and tools with a focus on scalable data intensive computing. Industry approaches supporting data intensive applications have been highly successful, leading many in the HPC community to search for ways to adapt them to HPC hardware and software contexts. Conversely, industry looks to the HPC community for their expertise in designing, deploying, and using extremely large and high performance computing systems. This special issue contains seven articles, each of which is an extended version of a paper presented in the 2015 International Workshop on Data Intensive Scalable Computing Systems (DISCS-2015) held in Austin, Texas on November 15, 2015. The workshop program included papers that ranged from programming models to systems software to storage, each with a strong focus on data intensive computing.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Obfuscation for high-performance computing systems

An example method includes initializing, by an obfuscation computing system, communications with nodes in a distributed computing platform, the nodes including one or more compute nodes and a controller node, and performing at least one of: (a) code-level obfuscation for the distributed computing platform to obfuscate interactions between an external user computing system and the nodes, wherein performing the code-level obfuscation comprises obfuscating data associated with one or more commands provided by the user computing system and sending one or more obfuscated commands to at least one of the nodes in the distributed computing platform; or (b) system-level obfuscation for the distributed computing platform, wherein performing the system-level obfuscation comprises at least one of obfuscating system management tasks that are performed to manage the nodes or obfuscating network traffic data that is exchanged between the nodes.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Obfuscation for high-performance computing systems

An example method includes initializing, by an obfuscation computing system, communications with nodes in a distributed computing platform, the nodes including one or more compute nodes and a controller node, and performing at least one of: (a) code-level obfuscation for the distributed computing platform to obfuscate interactions between an external user computing system and the nodes, wherein performing the code-level obfuscation comprises obfuscating data associated with one or more commands provided by the user computing system and sending one or more obfuscated commands to at least one of the nodes in the distributed computing platform; or (b) system-level obfuscation for the distributed computing platform, wherein performing the system-level obfuscation comprises at least one of obfuscating system management tasks that are performed to manage the nodes or obfuscating network traffic data that is exchanged between the nodes.

Powers, Judson↗

Task allocation in a distributed computing system

A conceptual framework is examined for task allocation in distributed systems. Application and computing system parameters critical to task allocation decision processes are discussed. Task allocation techniques are addressed which focus on achieving a balance in the load distribution among the system's processors. Equalization of computing load among the processing elements is the goal. Examples of system performance are presented for specific applications. Both static and dynamic allocation of tasks are considered and system performance is evaluated using different task allocation methodologies.

Seward, Walter D.↗

Study indicates fluid digital computation systems are feasible

Digital computation systems using fluid amplifiers are proven practical. The response speed is adequate for space applications and they are reliable in adverse environments. The systems may be feasible for satellite attitude controls and guidance computers for manned orbital stations.

Source record↗

An ontology-based fault generation and fault propagation analysis approach for safety-critical computer systems at the design stage

Abstract Fault propagation analysis is a process used to determine the consequences of faults residing in a computer system. A typical computer system consists of diverse components (e.g., electronic and software components), thus, the faults contained in these components tend to possess diverse characteristics. How to describe and model such diverse faults, and further determine fault propagation through different components are challenging problems to be addressed in the fault propagation analysis. This paper proposes an ontology-based approach, which is an integrated method allowing for the generation, injection, and propagation through inference of diverse faults at an early stage of the design of a computer system. The results generated by the proposed framework can verify system robustness and identify safety and reliability risks with limited design level information. In this paper, we propose an ontological framework and its application to analyze an example safety-critical computer system. The analysis result shows that the proposed framework is capable of inferring fault propagation paths through software and hardware components and is effective in predicting the impact of faults.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Computational strategies for three-dimensional flow simulations on distributed computer systems

An increasing amount of research activity in computational fluid dynamics has been devoted to the development of efficient algorithms for parallel computing systems. The increasing performance to price ratio of engineering workstations has led to research to development procedures for implementing a parallel computing system composed of distributed workstations. This thesis proposal outlines an ongoing research program to develop efficient strategies for performing three-dimensional flow analysis on distributed computing systems. The PVM parallel programming interface was used to modify an existing three-dimensional flow solver, the TEAM code developed by Lockheed for the Air Force, to function as a parallel flow solver on clusters of workstations. Steady flow solutions were generated for three different wing and body geometries to validate the code and evaluate code performance. The proposed research will extend the parallel code development to determine the most efficient strategies for unsteady flow simulations.

Weed, Richard Allen↗

Radiation Tolerant, FPGA-Based SmallSat Computer System

The Radiation Tolerant, FPGA-based SmallSat Computer System (RadSat) computing platform exploits a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with real-time partial reconfiguration to provide increased performance, power efficiency and radiation tolerance at a fraction of the cost of existing radiation hardened computing solutions. This technology is ideal for small spacecraft that require state-of-the-art on-board processing in harsh radiation environments but where using radiation hardened processors is cost prohibitive.

On-board processing for harsh radiation environmen↗

System Analysis for the Huntsville Operation Support Center, Distributed Computer System

HOSC as a distributed computing system, is responsible for data acquisition and analysis during Space Shuttle operations. HOSC also provides computing services for Marshall Space Flight Center's nonmission activities. As mission and nonmission activities change, so do the support functions of HOSC change, demonstrating the need for some method of simulating activity at HOSC in various configurations. The simulation developed in this work primarily models the HYPERchannel network. The model simulates the activity of a steady state network, reporting statistics such as, transmitted bits, collision statistics, frame sequences transmitted, and average message delay. These statistics are used to evaluate such performance indicators as throughout, utilization, and delay. Thus the overall performance of the network is evaluated, as well as predicting possible overload conditions.

Ingels, F. M.↗

Digital optical computers at the optoelectronic computing systems center

The Digital Optical Computing Program within the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Opto-electronic Computing Systems has as its specific goal research on optical computing architectures suitable for use at the highest possible speeds. The program can be targeted toward exploiting the time domain because other programs in the Center are pursuing research on parallel optical systems, exploiting optical interconnection and optical devices and materials. Using a general purpose computing architecture as the focus, we are developing design techniques, tools and architecture for operation at the speed of light limit. Experimental work is being done with the somewhat low speed components currently available but with architectures which will scale up in speed as faster devices are developed. The design algorithms and tools developed for a general purpose, stored program computer are being applied to other systems such as optimally controlled optical communication networks.

Jordan, Harry F.↗

A three-failure-tolerant computer system.

Two basic factors influence the design of highly reliable computer systems: the amount of failures required to be tol erated and the reliability or MTBF required. A computer system designed to tolerate any three single failures in a fail-operational-fail-operational-fail-safe manner for a real-time control application is presented. The design approach uses adaptive majority voting in both hardware and software with a four-level redundant system. Various methods of performing the adaptive majority voting functions were evaluated with the selected approach using a special module termed a voter-comparator switch (VCS). The VCS module allows the computer system to be operated in a variety of redundant modes, depending on the failure tolerance required at any particular time.

Koczela, L. J.↗

Models and techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of aircraft computing systems

Models, measures, and techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of aircraft computing systems were developed. By "effectiveness" in this context we mean the extent to which the user, i.e., a commercial air carrier, may expect to benefit from the computational tasks accomplished by a computing system in the environment of an advanced commercial aircraft. Thus, the concept of effectiveness involves aspects of system performance, reliability, and worth (value, benefit) which are appropriately integrated in the process of evaluating system effectiveness. Specifically, the primary objectives are: the development of system models that provide a basis for the formulation and evaluation of aircraft computer system effectiveness, the formulation of quantitative measures of system effectiveness, and the development of analytic and simulation techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of a proposed or existing aircraft computer.

Meyer, J. F.↗

System enhancements of Mesoscale Analysis and Space Sensor (MASS) computer system

The interactive information processing for the mesoscale analysis and space sensor (MASS) program is reported. The development and implementation of new spaceborne remote sensing technology to observe and measure atmospheric processes is described. The space measurements and conventional observational data are processed together to gain an improved understanding of the mesoscale structure and dynamical evolution of the atmosphere relative to cloud development and precipitation processes. A Research Computer System consisting of three primary computers was developed (HP-1000F, Perkin-Elmer 3250, and Harris/6) which provides a wide range of capabilities for processing and displaying interactively large volumes of remote sensing data. The development of a MASS data base management and analysis system on the HP-1000F computer and extending these capabilities by integration with the Perkin-Elmer and Harris/6 computers using the MSFC's Apple III microcomputer workstations is described. The objectives are: to design hardware enhancements for computer integration and to provide data conversion and transfer between machines.

Hickey, J. S.↗