Index Journeys
RFC 345 UNKNOWN RESOURCES · SOFTWARE · SHARED COMPUTING

Interest in Mixed Integer Programming (MPSX on NIC 360/91 at CCN)

Seeking network sites to share the cost of an optimization software package.

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
May 1972
AUTHORS
K.C. Kelley
STREAM
Legacy
MONTHLY COST
$130 base + $225 for mixed integer feature
SYSTEM
IBM MPSX on UCLA CCN 360/91
BILLED
Prorated by site
DEADLINE
Within the month of May 1972
DOI
10.17487/RFC0345

RFC text

Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗ 
NIC 10424                                             Karl Kelley
NWG/RFC 345                                University of Illinois
                                                     May 26, 1972

     INTEREST IN MIXED INTEGER PROGRAMMING (MPSX ON 360/91 AT CCN)

     MPSX is a newer version of the IBM project MPS, used for integer
programming.  From what I've been told, MPSX outperforms the previous
package.  In addition, it has available a feature of mixed integer
programming.

     Since MPSX is an IBM product, an installation which uses it is
charged a fixed rental fee per month.  At the present time, CCN does
not have this processor with its system.  We are anticipating asking
them to install it, with the mixed integer programming option.  We
are looking for any other users from the Network who may need this
software in order to prorate the cost between several installations.
The initial estimate of the cost is $130/month, plus $225 for the
mixed integer programming feature.  A share of this cost would be
assigned to each user of the system.  I am told by Robert Bell of CCN
that they could take care of those details for us.

     If you have an interest in this, I urge you to contact me within
the month.  If you have questions about the mixed integer programming
feature of the MPSX system itself, you could contact:

                     Stewart Schuster
                     University of Illinois
                     Center for Advanced Computation
                     327 Advanced Computation Building
                     Urbana, Illinois 61801

                     Tel:  (217) 333-3036

     Of course, in the meantime, the system MPS is available on the
CCN system.

KCK:mdt

       [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
       [ into the online RFC archives by BBN Corp. under the   ]
       [ direction of Alex McKenzie.                   12/96   ]

AI ELI5

On this page
PROBLEMThe University of Illinois wants to use IBM's MPSX mixed integer programming software at the UCLA CCN facility, but the monthly rental fee is too high for one site to bear.
MECHANISMThe university asks other ARPANET sites if they want to share the cost. A monthly lease is $130 plus $225 for the mixed integer feature, and costs would be prorated among all users.
A SHARED RESOURCEThe RFC seeks network partners to collectively purchase access to MPSX and share the operating expense.

§1Introduction

RFC 345 is a request from Karl Kelley at the University of Illinois for other ARPANET sites interested in a special software package. The software is MPSX (IBM's mathematical programming system for optimization), a newer version that outperforms the older MPS package.

MPSX is an IBM product and carries a fixed monthly rental fee. The University of Illinois would like to install MPSX at the UCLA CCN (Compleat Computer Network), which runs a shared 360/91 available to ARPANET users, but only if the costs can be split among several sites.

A school wants to rent special math software on a shared computer network. Instead of one school paying for it, they ask all the schools that want to use it to split the bill.

§2The Offer

The estimated cost is $130 per month for the base MPSX system, plus $225 for the mixed integer programming feature. Each site using the system would be charged a prorated share of this cost. CCN would handle billing details and account setup for participating sites.

The RFC names Stewart Schuster at the University of Illinois as the contact for questions about the mixed integer programming feature itself. Meanwhile, the basic MPS system is already available on the CCN computer, so sites can experiment with it while the decision is being made.

The monthly fee is $130 plus $225, split among all users. Each site pays their share. The school's contact person can answer technical questions, and you can already try the older version.

§3Call for Interest

Karl Kelley asks interested sites to contact him within the month. This RFC is essentially a survey to determine if there is enough interest to justify the installation and cost-sharing arrangement. Participating sites would benefit from access to a powerful optimization tool shared across the ARPANET without each site bearing the full expense.

If your site wants to use it, email the person listed to say yes. He needs to know soon so he can set it up.