Export Control Review Results
DD Project CSC179
FASTMath Installation and Portable Performance Testing
FASTMath is a large collection of interrelated HPC technologies involving sparse and dense solver
libraries such as HYPRE, PETSc, Sundials, SuperLU and meshers such as MOAB, BoxLib and Chombo. We
have a variety of test applications which we plan to run to test individual packages as well as integration
of packages working together in a larger context.
Summary
The Director’s Discretion project identified herein is Fundamental Research. No end use/end user issues
were identified. Project is not generating proprietary data. Department of Commerce restrictions for
the software under EAR99, apply to Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Cuba. No additional export
control restrictions are required other than those in place for access to HPCs. Please proceed using LCF
Category 1 Fundamental Research, cyber security policy.
Purpose of request
Director’s Discretion project CSC179, “FASTMath Installation and Portable Performance Testing,” will
access NCCS computing resources. OLCF Category 1 cyber security protections are appropriate for this
project using Department of Commerce EAR99, open source applications, and no proprietary data. The
project is not generating export controlled technical information. Project is Fundamental Research.
Introduction
The project is identified as CSC179, “FASTMath Installation and Portable Performance Testing,” for the
HPC System is incorporated herein.
User Review and Agreement
The principal investigator (PI) has been screened by a list of Government authorities and no matches
were identified. The PI is responsible for assuring compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws and
Regulations. The PI is bound by the “Principal Investigators Agreement” executed as a requirement for
access.
Technology/Item Classification
We would like the ability to test updates to FASTMath software packages as they occur throughout the
remaining life of the FASTMath project. FASTMath is a large collection of interrelated HPC technologies
involving sparse and dense solver libraries such as HYPRE, PETSc, Sundials, SuperLU and meshers such as
MOAB, BoxLib and Chombo. We have a variety of test applications which we plan to run to test
individual packages as well as integration of packages working together in a larger context. The work will
involve a combination of C, C++ and Fortran using MPI, possibly OpenMP employing a variety of solver
and meshing approaches to individual tests. The significance of this effort is in testing portability,
scalability and portable performance ability of a variety of FASTMath software packages (solvers and
meshers), feedbacking to respective project teams the results of scaling and performance tests and in
maintaining updates to these packages as new releases are made. Honestly, the research aspect of
things isn't nearly so significant as the nuts-and-bolts computer science and software development
know-how to be applied in ensuring FASTMath packages are easy to install, easy to use and achieve
goood performance on LCF systems such as Titan. FASTMath already supports similar installations on
ANL's Vesta and NERSC's hopper systems. In each of those cases, we learned a number of important
lessons in supporting HPC software, fed these lessons back to package developers and improved the
quality those packages in future releases.
This research is not proprietary. The PI has indicated that work results are publishable; and, research is
not using or generating proprietary information. Department of Commerce ECCN EAR99 is appropriate
for codes used where the source code has not been published. The identified software applications and
tools proposed for use in modeling are open source, developed in fundamental research; and, are not
under export control jurisdiction. Given the status of the codes and the intended goals, this project
meets the following definition:
NSDD 189 defines fundamental research as “basic and applied research in science and engineering,
the results of which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as
distinguished from proprietary research and from industrial development, design, production, and
product utilization, the results of which ordinarily are restricted for proprietary or national security
reasons.”
If the research meets the above definition and is intended for open publication, then the research
output would not fall under export control jurisdiction and therefore would be releasable to the public
without restriction.
A precautionary note associated with the Application Program(s) and its output:
However, in rapidly advancing research fields, fundamental research may develop practical applications
that make it subject to export control. Further, fundamental research sometimes uses technologies or
computational tools and techniques that may be sensitive and subject to export control. And in some
circumstances, what is normally considered fundamental research may be classified if it is particularly
significant to national security. Please refer to the attachment, “Training PresentationREV5” for
additional information.
A precautionary note associated with the High Performance Computer hardware and software itself
(exclusion of the Application software):
HPC and the associated operating software is controlled by the Department of Commerce under 4A003
(hardware), 4D001 (operating software) and the associated technology 4E001 for National Security,
Nuclear Nonproliferation, and other stated reasons. Because of these restrictions, no physical access to
the hardware, software and technology by a foreign national Participant, who is not a lawful permanent
resident, is permitted without an export control license from the Department of Commerce. In this
situation it is assumed that this will not be the case and therefore not a concern. However, it should also
be noted that any access to high performance computers are restricted to Tier 4 foreign countries (e.g.
Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria). Please refer to the attachment, “Examples
(1)HPCsystems(2)Applications&(3)PurposeComputerUsage11-12”.
End User/End Use Restrictions
For equipment, materials, and/or software which are under the Department of Commerce, a license
maybe required if the destination is a terrorist or embargoed country (Cuba, Iraq, Iran, North Korea,
Sudan and Syria), on the denied persons list (international criminals), on denial orders
(organizations/companies involved in heinous activities) or on the Entity List (weapons of mass
destruction). Additionally, the "Know your Customer" screening requirements must also be considered
for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological, and Missile Technology involvement. For a more detailed
description of these restrictions please go to the SBMS URL below and look under Program Description
document cited therein.
Other Considerations
If any agreements are entered into, all parties must agree to be responsible for their own Export Control
Compliance of U.S. laws and regulations as it relates to the work being undertaken. It should be noted,
if there is a material change in the scope of work or if an end-point performance/application is
identified, a re-determination will be required. The principle investigator on this project is responsible
for monitoring the performance achievements of the project and keeping export control requirements
in mind. These agreements can run for years and export control laws and regulations can change.