Content of research

Hokkaido University Information Initiative Center has established the Hokkaido University Academic Cloud, one of the largest academic clouds in Japan, and provides cloud services to researchers nationwide, including those concerning virtual and physical machines and their cluster systems, high-speed high-capacity cloud storage services, and machine learning and big data processing systems for research and development. We are also promoting research on fundamental technologies to realize nationwide cloud system collaboration and system construction to support researchers. Specific examples include the development of infrastructure technologies for cloud collaboration (authentication collaboration, etc.) and the construction of a test system (Fig. 1), resource allocation optimization in an intercloud environment, and the realization of a large-scale design optimization framework on a nationwide scale by linking supercomputers and intercloud infrastructure (Fig. 2). We are also conducting joint research with universities, research institutes and companies across the country.

Potential for social implementation

• ・Optimal design of intercloud systems, automatic construction, optimal resource allocation, etc.
• ・Automatic construction of a dedicated system (Virtual Private Cloud) for each laboratory or group
• ・Large-scale parallel and distributed design optimization in conjunction with large-scale computational simulation

Appealing points to industry and local governments

We are actively promoting joint research with universities, research institutes and companies through the Hokkaido University Academic Cloud, and are conducting a wide range of research on system construction and utilization for academics and researchers. We are also actively involved in community activities related to the dissemination of cloud computing technologies, by serving as chief examiners of cloud computing research groups and general advisors for the Cloud Computing Utilization Promotion Organization.