What is high-performance computing (HPC)?

The modern world generates unprecedented amounts of data that require increasingly complex computations. From decoding the human genome to modeling climate change, from developing new medicines to training large-scale language models, tasks that seemed impossible a decade ago can now be solved in a matter of hours thanks to High-Performance Computing (HPC).

We live in an era where data processing speed directly impacts business competitiveness and scientific progress. Traditional computing systems can no longer cope with the growing demands of big data and complex computing. That is why HPC technologies have evolved from a highly specialized scientific field into a critical tool for business and research.

Source: https://www.qlever.ru/press/chto-takoe-bi

What is HPC?

High Performance Computing (HPC)is a technology that allows complex computing problems to be solved by simultaneously utilizing multiple computing resources. Unlike traditional computer systems where tasks are processed sequentially, HPC systems distribute the load among hundreds or thousands of processors running in parallel.

A high-performance computing cluster is a system of interconnected components working together to solve large-scale computing problems. Its operation is based on the principle of distributed parallel computing: a complex task is divided into many subtasks, which are processed simultaneously on different nodes of the cluster. High-performance computing cluster is a system of interconnected components working together to solve large-scale computing tasks.

The key feature of modern HPC-systems is the integration of graphics processing units (GPUs) with classical central processing units (CPUs). While CPUs can perfectly cope with sequential operations, GPUs, having thousands of cores, are capable of processing huge data arrays simultaneously..

To ensure maximum performance cluster nodes are equipped with high-speed RAM and connected to each other with ultra-fast communication channels. Special software coordinates the work of all components, distributing tasks between nodes and optimizing the use of available resources.

Source : https://www.amax.com/the-power-of-gpu-clusters-unleashing-high-performance-computing/

HPC system consists of the following components:

• Computing nodes with powerful CPUs and GPUs;
• High-speed network for data exchange between nodes;
• High bandwidth storage systems;
• Specialized resource management software.

Source : https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/high-performance-cloud-computing/

Modern HPC clusters can achieve performance of several exaflops (quintillions of operations per second), which allows solving tasks that are impossible on conventional computers. At the same time, the main challenge remains not only to achieve maximum performance, but also to efficiently use these colossal computing resources.

HPC applications

High performance computing finds application wherever large amounts of data or complex calculations are required. Let’s consider some typical examples demonstrating the versatility of this technology.

Scientific research and engineering

In the aerospace industry, HPC systems are used to model airflow around aircraft. This allows engineers to optimize designs without numerous physical tests, significantly reducing development time and cost. Similar computations are also used in the automotive, construction and energy industries.

Medicine and biotechnology

Biomedical research is actively using HPC to sequence DNA and develop new drugs. High-performance computing allows analyzing huge amounts of genetic data and modeling the interaction of molecules with target proteins. In vaccine research, HPC systems help to model immune system responses and pathogen behavior, which significantly accelerates the process of new drug development.

Financial Sector

In finance, HPC is used for sophisticated risk management and algorithmic trading. High-frequency trading requires instantaneous processing of market data and decision making in milliseconds. HPC systems analyze historical data and perform complex financial calculations in real time, which is critical in today’s financial markets.

Business Intelligence

The retail industry uses HPC to analyze customer behavior and optimize business processes. Processing data from millions of transactions helps predict demand, optimize prices and personalize marketing offers. Similar approaches are used in telecommunications, logistics, and other industries that require big data analytics to make business decisions.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

HPC plays a special role in the development of artificial intelligence. Training large language models and neural networks requires enormous computing power. HPC systems with modern GPU gas pedals make it possible to create increasingly complex AI models that find applications in speech recognition, computer vision, and other fields.

As cloud technology advances, access to high-performance computing is becoming easier, opening up new opportunities for business and science. The use of HPC allows organizations to solve problems that previously seemed technically infeasible or uneconomical. High performance computing is becoming easier to access, opening up new opportunities for business and science.

HPC trends

High performance computing is rapidly evolving under the influence of new technologies and the growing needs of business and academia.

• The convergence of HPC and artificial intelligence

The new generation of GPUs is being built to support HPC and AI simultaneously. Tensor cores not only accelerate neural networks, but also open up new possibilities for scientific calculations. This allows machine learning methods to be applied to optimize traditional HPC tasks.

• Focus on efficiency and sustainability

Modern HPC systems are evolving towards energy efficiency. Liquid cooling systems are introduced, energy-efficient processors are developed, and load management algorithms are optimized. The goal of these innovations is to make high-performance computing more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

• Distributed systems and availability

Distributed HPC systems are being created, combining resources from different organizations. Cloud technologies make high-performance computing available to a wide range of users – from scientific teams to small businesses.

• Software Development

Development tools for HPC systems are improving: new frameworks for parallel computing are being created, automatic code optimization is being introduced, monitoring and resource management tools are being improved.

HPC in the cloud: a new approach to high-performance computing

Till recently, high-performance computing remained the privilege of the largest corporations and scientific centers. The rapid development of cloud technologies is transforming the approach to HPC organization. The traditional model is giving way to more flexible and cost-effective solutions, making HPC technologies available to a wide range of organizations.

Traditional approach VS cloud HPC

• In the traditional approach, organizations are forced to build their own computing centers – it is comparable to building a personal power plant. This way requires not only huge initial investments, but also constant expenses for infrastructure support, equipment upgrades and staffing.

.

• Cloud technologies democratize access to high-performance computing, making it available to virtually any organization. Modern cloud HPC solutions work on the principle of renting a supercomputer for computing as a service: users get access to a ready-made high-performance infrastructure via the Internet, paying only for the actual time of resource utilization. Each client gets access to an isolated segment of resources that looks and works like a dedicated supercomputer.

Benefits of cloud HPC

• Cost-effectiveness. Compared to the traditional approach, cloud HPC requires no capital expenditure on infrastructure and staff. You only pay for the resources actually used, avoiding the cost of maintaining overcapacity.

.

• Access to advanced technology. Unlike in-house infrastructure, where hardware upgrades are complex and costly, cloud providers upgrade their systems regularly.

• Flexibility and scalability. Compared to physical infrastructure, where capacity can take months to ramp up, cloud HPC systems scale almost instantly. The modular architecture allows computing resources to be flexibly adapted to the current needs of the project, from a few GPUs for testing to hundreds of gas pedals for production applications.

• Professional support. Instead of maintaining your own team of specialists, you get access to the expertise of a cloud provider. Placement in modern data centers guarantees high reliability, security and 24/7 technical support.

.

Cloud HPC has become the optimal solution for organizations looking to avoid the complexities of building their own infrastructure. With the traditional approach, organizations face challenges at the planning stage: it is extremely difficult to accurately determine the amount of computing power required, especially for new projects and emerging areas. Underestimating needs can lead to insufficient performance and project deadlines, while overcapacity means inefficient use of investments.

Benefits of an off-the-shelf solution

Utilizing a ready-made HPC cluster instead of creating your own infrastructure provides:

• The ability to start with minimal capacity and flexibly scale as needs grow;
• Access to a professionally configured and optimized infrastructure from day one;
• Comprehensive maintenance and round-the-clock support from a team of experts;
• Significant reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) due to the absence of capital expenditures and optimization of operating costs;
• Liberation of internal resources from the need to support complex infrastructure and the ability to focus on solving specialized tasks

.

Benefits of the ITGLOBAL.COM solution

ITGLOBAL.COM provides access to state-of-the-art NVIDIA SuperPOD-based HPC clusterslocated in the cutting-edge Equinix AM2 data center in the Netherlands. This solution combines supercomputing services with advanced technology, professional support and flexible scalability.

Preferred Infrastructure

The cluster is powered by the latest NVIDIA HGX H100 platform, which delivers unprecedented performance for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Each Dell PowerEdge XE9680 server is equipped with eight NVIDIA H100 graphics gas pedals that deliver up to 4.5 times the performance of the previous generation in AI tasks. The SuperPOD architecture allows up to 256 GPUs to be utilized simultaneously, enabling the most demanding computational challenges.

The SuperPOD modular architecture provides:

• The ability to quickly increase computing power;
• Adaptation of configuration for specific tasks;
• Efficient allocation of resources between projects;
• Optimize costs by precisely matching needs

Reliability and safety

Positioning your cluster in an Equinix AM2 data center ensures:

• High physical security of the infrastructure;

High physical security of the infrastructure;

• Uninterrupted power supply;
• Uninterrupted power supply;
• Efficient equipment cooling;
• Reliable communication channels with redundancy;
• Reliable communication channels with redundancy.

Professional support

ITGLOBAL.COM provides 24/7 technical support with a response time of 15 minutes. A team of experts helps:

• Optimally configure computing resources for specific tasks;
• Solve emerging technical issues;
• Maximize the efficiency of the cluster;
• Provide expert advice on workflow optimization;
• Provide expert advice on workflow optimization;

Closure

High performance computing is no longer exotic and is becoming an essential tool for business and science. Tasks that require processing large amounts of data or complex calculations arise in almost every industry: from financial analysis to the development of new materials, from the optimization of logistics chains to the creation of more effective drugs. High-performance computing is no longer exotic and is becoming an essential tool for business and science.

Modern cloud technologies solve the main problem that has long held back the spread of HPC – the complexity and cost of building its own infrastructure. NVIDIA SuperPOD from ITGLOBAL.COMprovides access to world-class computing power without the need for multi-million dollar hardware investments and months of deployment time.

If your organization faces challenges that require serious computing resources, contact our experts. We can help you assess your needs and find the best configuration for your projects. We can help you evaluate your requirements and select the optimal configuration for your projects.