HPC as a Service is a computing model where users have on-demand access to dynamically scalable, high-performance clusters optimized for parallel computing plus the expertise needed to set up, optimize and run their applications over the Internet. The traditional barriers associated with high-performance computing such as the initial capital outlay, time to procure the system, effort to optimize the software environment, engineering their system for peak demand and continuing operating costs have been removed. Instead, HPC as a Service users have a secure, scalable cluster available on demand that operates and has the same performance characteristics as a physical HPC cluster located in their data room.
HPC as a Service provides users with a number of key benefits:
- HPC resources scale with demand and are available with no capital outlay – only the resources used are actually paid for.
- A highly-secure, state-of-the-art facility protects your account, data and your jobs.
- Experts in high-performance computing help setup and optimize the software environment and can help trouble-shoot issues that might occur.
- Faster time-to-results especially for computational requirements that exceed your existing computing capacity.
- Computing costs are reduced, particularly where the work flow has spikes in demand.
- Dedicated storage servers can provide a very low cost storage solution (as little as $0.05 per GB-month)
- Access from anywhere in the world with high-speed data transfer in and out.
- Exchanging hot-swappable 2TB disk drives overnight through Federal Express provides a secure and convenient way to transfer 250GB plus data sets.
- Accounts are provided on an individual user basis, and users are billed for the time they use POD.