NEWS: Jaring starts building a computing grid

NEW SERVICE: Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili signing a plaque to mark the launch of Jaring's OneGrid. Also present are (from left) Sabah Resources and IT Development Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Zambry Abd Kadir, Awang, and Khir.

KUALA LUMPUR: Internet service provider Jaring Communications wants to link all the datacentres in the country to form a computing grid.

Such a grid of computers will make it easier and faster to crunch out solutions to all sorts of problems, such as medical cures, better buildings and safer vehicles.

“It will also become faster to complete various computing tasks,” said Jaring chief executive officer Dr Mohamed Awang Lah. “What now takes days or weeks, could be completed in hours.”

If all goes well, this will become Jaring’s OneGrid high-performace computing service. OneGrid will eventually form part of the national cloud-computing infrastructure that will push local industries forward.

Jaring chairman Datuk Md Khir Abdul Rahman said the national computing grid will be especially beneficial to the local research and development circles because it will allow researchers to do more despite having tight monetary budgets.

“Research organisations requiring high computing capabilities will be able to pool and share resources,” Khir said.

To get the ball rolling, Jaring has signed agreements with the Perak and Sabah state governments to develop world-class datacentres. It was not disclosed when these datacentres will be completed, or how much they will cost.

“We hope the Government will provide strong support to encourage other state governments to participate in this programme,” Khir said.

In conjunction with the launch of OneGrid, Jaring has initiated collaborations with several local universities that have expressed interest in developing cloud and grid computing infrastructure for education, research and administration purposes.

A memorandum of understanding with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Perak was signed at the launch to kick off the initiative.

Jaring said six other universities, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Selangor and Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, have confirmed their participation.

While it is developing the national cloud-computing infrastructure, Jaring will use OneGrid to offer rendering services for creative content development and manufacturing industries.