Thoughts from the engineers

Rising to the challenge of difficult hurdles

The energy consumption of computers has become a huge issue globally. The performance demanded from the CPUs was three times or more than previous models, but power consumption had to be half or less.
This project challenge let us rise up through the term "world's fastest computer." By working for that distant goal, we were able to achieve it. [CPU development team member]

World-class supercomputer fully created in Japan

The tough challenge of reducing memory consumption, while maintaining high performance, is a necessity in the software for large-scale supercomputers.
In the development team there are many young engineers, who are very eager. With energetic members like them, I would like to proceed with further development toward the finalized form of the software for this supercomputer wholly made in Japan. [Software development team member]

Starting from zero

I started my project participation in 2008. There were many young engineers among the team members. Experienced engineers like me joined this group and we engaged in vigorous discussions to bring forward the design. Under the shared goal of becoming the world's best, we were able to unite as one team. [Middleware development team member]

Endless performance improvement

I participated as a compiler engineer in a new CPU design, and helped complete the SPARC64™ VIIIfx. It all depends on the compiler whether you use or kill a great design idea. The endless effort towards performance improvement has given me a sense of satisfaction. Although we had a nonstop schedule unlike anything I had ever experienced before, I worked to accomplish the product and its performance to a level that I could be proud of. [Compiler software development team member]

Cooperation with the verification team

The interconnect was specifically designed to efficiently connect tens of thousands of CPUs. Since the scale was at an unprecedented level, there were not many places where we could employ our accumulated development know-how within the company. However, through close cooperation with the verification team, we were able to achieve the requested high performance, high reliability and low power consumption design. [Interconnect development team member]

Cheers from our competitors

When I introduced our technologies at the supercomputer exhibition in U.S.A., I even received words of encouragement from our competitors. That encouragement came as a fresh reminder of the importance of the project and of Fujitsu's technical capabilities. I am profoundly grateful that I was able to strive to a higher goal through the project. We continue to work toward establishing the system while cherishing the cheers from our competitors. [CPU development team member]

Valuable experience

When I explained the interconnect specification to the in-house and external team members involved in the project, I was shocked to receive comments such as, "I don't understand" and "It's difficult to understand." I then received valuable advice from many people including the leading authority in this field. While I was improving the explanatory documents, I learned the importance and the difficulties of creating understandable descriptions. [Interconnect development team member]

A system no one had ever experienced before

Every team member tackling the development was beating their brains out and working hard. Fujitsu is one of the few companies in the world that can develop such a supercomputer even from the software level. In playing a part in the development team and elevating Fujitsu's presence in the world, I would also like to think we are contributing to the development of Japanese science and technology and the realization of a more prosperous society. [File system software development team member]

Supporting future social infrastructure

The large-scale structure is unprecedented in the world, so is the technology to detect failures anywhere and recover from faults. Those are technologies that can be applied to other highly reliable systems supporting databases and social infrastructure in the future. Daily I continue to devote my energies to this development while dreaming that I can contribute to other fields through this project. [OS development team member]

Joining Fujitsu made my dream come true

I joined Fujitsu with the desire to develop world top class computing machines. Now, I am deeply thrilled with my involvement in the K computer development project. I would like researchers to use the K computer to their hearts' content and to create innovations that will make many people happy. [System development team member]