The French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) is the number one agricultural institute in Europe and ranked second in the world. Its Versailles-Grignon research center employs approximately 1,500 people and carries out research into plant genomics and integrative biology, agricultural production, and food quality.
Challenge
- System expansion. INRA URGI wanted to expand its computing platform to ensure a competitive research advantage
- New DNA sequencing technology. It needed to be in a position to use next-generation sequencing technology, which has only been available since 2009
- Galvanise. INRA wanted to strengthen its position as Europe’s leading agricultural institute and the world’s number two agricultural laboratory
Solution
- Measurements. It benchmarked the Intel® Xeon® processor 5600 series against the Intel® Xeon® processor 5400 series, which was powering its existing computing cluster
- Performance leap. The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series provided an average 50 per cent performance increase over the Intel Xeon processor 5400 series
Benefits
- New cluster. INRA URGI also implemented 22 new HP BL460c* blade servers powered by 44 Intel Xeon processor 5600 series and plans to introduce a further 40, or more, processors by the end of the year
- New details. It can now take full advantage of next-generation sequencing, which enables the sequencing of DNA at unprecedented speed
- Reaching out. The new cluster permits more concurrent users, enabling INRA URGI to expand its usage into the wider research community
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