IT & Computers

© MPIDR

The IT group is responsible for the design and operation of the entire IT infrastructure of the Institute, as well as for providing IT support to all of the Institute’s scientists, non-scientific staff members, and guests. Members of the group can be counted on to quickly and dependably deploy the hardware and software needed for research. In addition, they provide support in the technical implementation of research projects, such as database programming services. In an independent survey conducted in December 2020, a total of 96 percent of all employees said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the services and support provided by the IT group.

Networks

The foundations of the Institute’s modern IT infrastructure are cable and fiber optical, as well as wireless high-speed networks. A sophisticated redundancy system prevents disruptions in case individual network components fail. The wireless network, which is available throughout the Institute building, as well as in the guest apartments, provides access to worldwide research networks, such as eduroam. The networks are protected against threats from the Internet by modern gateways and firewalls. However, MPI employees who are working at home or traveling can easily access the resources of the Institute remotely.

Servers and Storage

The scientists and guests of the Institute have at their disposal several hundred computers, as well as printers, scanners, and peripheral equipment. At the center of the IT environment are virtual server and storage pools. These pools perform all of the tasks of a modern data center. Through the virtualization, as well as the division of services into various server rooms of the Institute, a high degree of availability and flexibility is achieved. The employees of the Institute can rely on the constant monitoring of all of the servers and network services. If an error should occur, IT staff will be notified quickly, and the problem will be fixed.

Software

The IT group ensures that all scientists are given access to the software that is necessary and appropriate for their field of research. This involves providing competent advice on the selection of software, as well as the procurement and management of licenses. The installation and configuration of software packages are performed through a self-service portal. Scientists don’t have to deal with these issues themselves, and can instead concentrate on their research.

Programming

To make its work available to a wider public, the Institute operates several websites. The programmers of the IT group have, over the years, developed and optimized a content management system for the external web pages of the Institute, as well as for the intranet. This system makes it easy for scientists to post and present online their research topics, results, and publications.

Multimedia and other services

The IT group is also responsible for the area of multimedia. This includes managing the extensive media equipment of the auditorium and the seminar rooms of the Institute, as well as the video conferencing systems and the centrally managed presentation equipment. Certain aspects of building services engineering, such as access control, time and attendance recording, and the telephone system, are also integrated into the processes of the IT group, and are maintained by IT staff.

Regulations on the use of IT infrastructure (PDF File, 50 kB)