Berkeley Lab Receives Early Access System for Next-Gen Supercomputer
The National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has received the NERSC-10 Pilot Early Access System, named Cech. This milestone marks a significant step toward deploying Doudna, the facility's next flagship supercomputer, scheduled for late 2026. The Cech system, smaller than the final production unit, allows NERSC staff and vendor Dell Technologies to refine assembly, installation, and integration processes. It features cutting-edge technology, including NVIDIA Grace CPUs, Blackwell GPUs, and advanced liquid-cooling solutions from Dell and Rittal, aimed at enhancing energy efficiency. Named after Nobel laureate Thomas Cech, whose RNA research paved the way for Jennifer Doudna’s CRISPR work, the system serves as a testing ground for the software stack and hardware integration. This public-private partnership involving Dell, NVIDIA, and VAST Data ensures a seamless user experience for over 11,000 scientists when the full-scale Doudna system launches. The early access phase is crucial for validating new technologies and operational workflows in high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.
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Berkeley Lab Receives Early Access System for Next-Gen Supercomputer
The National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has received the NERSC-10 Pilot Early Access System, named Cech. This milestone marks a significant step toward deploying Doudna, the facility's next flagship supercomputer, scheduled for late 2026. The Cech system, smaller than the final production unit, allows NERSC staff and vendor Dell Technologies to refine assembly, installation, and integration processes. It features cutting-edge technology, including NVIDIA Grace CPUs, Blackwell GPUs, and advanced liquid-cooling solutions from Dell and Rittal, aimed at enhancing energy efficiency. Named after Nobel laureate Thomas Cech, whose RNA research paved the way for Jennifer Doudna’s CRISPR work, the system serves as a testing ground for the software stack and hardware integration. This public-private partnership involving Dell, NVIDIA, and VAST Data ensures a seamless user experience for over 11,000 scientists when the full-scale Doudna system launches. The early access phase is crucial for validating new technologies and operational workflows in high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.
Berkeley Lab News Center