ES, IG-98-021, Improved Controls Needed Over NASA's Supercomputing Inventory

IMPROVED CONTROLS NEEDED OVER NASA'S
SUPERCOMPUTING INVENTORY
IG-98-021

Executive Summary

Introduction
The mission of the Consolidated Supercomputing Management Office (CoSMO) is to meet the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) supercomputing requirements through effective and efficient management of NASA's supercomputing resources. In Fiscal Year 1997, CoSMO, located at the Ames Research Center (ARC), initiated a consolidation study to determine the optimal architecture for NASA's supercomputers. CoSMO subsequently clarified the different categories of supercomputers -- a change that is likely to result in a significant reclassification of those machines. CoSMO will undertake a new consolidation study of NASA's supercomputers based on the new classifications.

Objective
Our objective was to determine whether CoSMO had accurately identified NASA's supercomputer inventory and supercomputing "time" (cycles) acquired from external sources.

Results of Audit
CoSMO can improve its effectiveness as NASA's office for consolidated supercomputing management by developing an accurate inventory of NASA's supercomputers and supercomputing time purchased. CoSMO's inventory was inaccurate because CoSMO had not developed guidance that NASA managers could use to report the necessary data. Until such guidance is made available, CoSMO cannot effectively and efficiently satisfy NASA's supercomputing requirements.

Recommendations
We recommend that the CoSMO Director issue guidance to NASA Center Directors and Enterprise managers to:

identify all NASA supercomputers and outside purchases of supercomputing time; and

coordinate with CoSMO on their respective acquisition and retirement plans for supercomputing resources.

Management's Responses to Recommendations Management concurred with the recommendations. CoSMO has taken several steps to improve the accuracy of its supercomputer inventory. Further, CoSMO plans to revise its Program Plan to include guidance on how to purchase supercomputing time and describe the coordination efforts for acquiring and retiring supercomputing resources.

Evaluation of Management's Response The actions taken and planned are responsive to the recommendations.

Introduction	The mission of the Consolidated Supercomputing Management Office (CoSMO) is to meet the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) supercomputing requirements through effective and efficient management of NASA's supercomputing resources. In Fiscal Year 1997, CoSMO, located at the Ames Research Center (ARC), initiated a consolidation study to determine the optimal architecture for NASA's supercomputers. CoSMO subsequently clarified the different categories of supercomputers -- a change that is likely to result in a significant reclassification of those machines. CoSMO will undertake a new consolidation study of NASA's supercomputers based on the new classifications.
Objective	Our objective was to determine whether CoSMO had accurately identified NASA's supercomputer inventory and supercomputing "time" (cycles) acquired from external sources.
Results of Audit	CoSMO can improve its effectiveness as NASA's office for consolidated supercomputing management by developing an accurate inventory of NASA's supercomputers and supercomputing time purchased. CoSMO's inventory was inaccurate because CoSMO had not developed guidance that NASA managers could use to report the necessary data. Until such guidance is made available, CoSMO cannot effectively and efficiently satisfy NASA's supercomputing requirements.
Recommendations	We recommend that the CoSMO Director issue guidance to NASA Center Directors and Enterprise managers to: identify all NASA supercomputers and outside purchases of supercomputing time; and coordinate with CoSMO on their respective acquisition and retirement plans for supercomputing resources.
Management's Responses to Recommendations	Management concurred with the recommendations. CoSMO has taken several steps to improve the accuracy of its supercomputer inventory. Further, CoSMO plans to revise its Program Plan to include guidance on how to purchase supercomputing time and describe the coordination efforts for acquiring and retiring supercomputing resources.
Evaluation of Management's Response	The actions taken and planned are responsive to the recommendations.