Elements of Supercomputing

Course description

Learning outcomes:

Modern technological, scientific and industrial breakthroughs require more and more sophisticated and advanced tools in solving the greatest challenges of the world and human kind. We need supercomputers.

Supercomputers are immensely powerful machines capable of advanced modeling and computing with seemingly endless increase of performance. But how powerful is a supercomputer in practice? How are they built and why do we need them? What are their main advantages and possibilities? How are supercomputers used?

In this online course we´ll examine these  questions and many more.

You will learn:

• the essential vocabulary needed to understand what supercomputing really is all about
• the fundamentals of supercomputers and high performance computing and
• how supercomputers are utilized.

By the end of the course, you will have the theoretical knowledge needed to explain the basic principles of a supercomputer and high performance computing. We´ll also take a look at some real-life examples and practical use cases of these amazing machines.

There are two language versions of the course – in Finnish and in English.

Contents:

• Introduction to HPC
• What is a supercomputer?
• Running and using a supercomputer
• Parallel computing concepts
• Mote technical aspects of parallel computing
• HPC programming (optional)

Further information:

Level: Basic, no prerequisites

Structure: Six thematic chapters (chapter 6 is optional)

There are two language versions of the course – in English and in Finnish.

Assessment criteria

Evaluation: Short exam at the end of chapters 1 – 5

Grading: Pass / Fail. To complete the course short exams must be passed and every knowledge check question must be answered correctly.

Course grades are saved within few weeks delay.

Course way of working and time table

An independent course done according to your own schedules.