DE

STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS

Sept. 30, 1976

As can be documented (with more detaiied figures to be
furnished Later) the SUMEX-ALH systen has become heavily
loaded, to the point of significant discomfort for many
external users. This is particularly discouraging at the
point where interesting programs (like CONCEN) have been
developed to a level of real utility, and which then
require fField-testing to demonstrate their full vaiue, and

to polish then from the ultimate users’ standpoint.

Within the SUMFA group at Stanford, we are
undertaking serious studies on various technical
alternatives for the long~range solutions to these
probliens. These are being prepared in time for the
submission of the SUMNEX~ATH project renewal application
intended for June, L977.

Nr, Amarel has led one of the largest, most important
and most creative of the SUMEX~user groups, and its
requirements constitute a significant part of the load. the
strengthening of the RUTGERS=-10 facility, particulariy in a
coordinated managerial Framevork, would plainiy be of great
use to that cluster of AIM-user projects, and could also
provide imnediate computer~power for a significant group of

users thus Lightening the overali burden. The adoption of

compatible operating systems ~~ which is now economical in
the light of DRC support of TOPS+20 -- would facilitate

that sharing of resources, with particular merit for
east~-coast users.

Although computer-network connunications remain a
viable option for transcontinental resource sharing,
restrictions on the use of ARPANET, and idiosyncrasies of
the available commercial systens, are such that many users
would be more comfortable working within feasible
direct-diail-up range of the serving machine. This is
particularly important in clinical applications; less so in
the chemical ones which are nore conputer~intensive.

te therefore concur that Dr. Anarei’s application

PARTMENT OF GENETICS, STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 * (415) 497-5052
could serve as a valuable augmentation of SUMEX~AIM
NATLONALLY-shared resources, as well as of its primary
regional purposes. We are certainly willing to cooperate to
the utmost in assuring a common management framework for
the allocation of the resource, and in the endeavour to
Sustain the highest practicable technical compatibility (or
complementarity where this is indicated.)

Joshua Lede

 
  

rincipal Investigafjr,
SUMEX~AIM Project