ASA History Timeline

Initiation

1985

The Alabama Supercomputer Network was initiated by Governor George Wallace.

Implementation

1987

The Alabama Supercomputer Network was implemented for the State by Boeing Computer Support Services (BCSS).

State Funding

1987

ASA becomes the first State-Funded Supercomputer Network in the nation.

Alabama Supercomputer Center

1987

  • The City of Huntsville donates the land for the Alabama Supercomputer system.
  • The Alabama Supercomputer Center building is completed in October (Crow Overbeek-Architect and Pearce Construction-Contractor).

ASA's First Supercomputer is Installed

1987

The Cray Supercomputer (Cray X-MP) is installed in November at the Alabama Supercomputer Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Network Operational

1988

  • The Alabama Supercomputer Network becomes operational in February with T1 highspeed data lines that linked Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Montgomery, Mobile, and Birmingham. 
  • Fourteen colleges and six K12 centers were connected with 56kb permanent lines. 
  • The Alabama Department of Finance, Archives, Education and AIDT were also connected to the Alabama Supercomputer Network.