I have had the opportunity to meet key decision makers within the SGI/CRI organization, the developers of the Cray products, as well as users of Cray systems like myself. I have found the availability of information that is not in any book to be invaluable--as well as the willingness of all people to share that information: managers, developers, and users alike.
After both of these conferences, I have returned home and been able to immediately solve problems for which I had been seeking answers for several months--including answers that even our Cray onsite analyst was unable to attain, even through his internal Cray contacts.
In another example, I was able to meet a user working on a special project with Cray in an attempt to implement a solution that I was also interested in implementing. By speaking to the user and also with the Cray developers and managers working on the products in question, I learned that the complete solution was not currently possible. I also learned that "realistically, it won't be attainable any time in the near future--if ever." While that wasn't neccesarily what I wanted to hear, it is a clear example of open and honest dialog between vendor and user.
This in itself has saved me more than enough hours and frustration to easily justify the entire conference cost. It has also proven to be an invaluable avenue to express our concerns about various issues affecting our site and others. I have seen direct actions taken and changes made as a result of bringing those issues and concerns into the open. I have also found that the contacts that I have made at the CUG conferences have developed into long-lasting relationships with both users and Cray employees that benefit all parties involved in one way or another.
Again, it is without a doubt the best and most invaluable conference
I have ever attended. I will continue to attend every one I possibly
can in the future, and would highly reccommend them to everyone else who
has anything to do with a Cray system--including managers, system
administrators, systems analysts, developers, and users alike.
And even if you don't have anything to do with Cray systems, you should attend for the social benefit (read, party)--unquestionably, something that will not be forgotten soon! :-)
