With the advent of powerful scientific instruments, more and more data has been generated. The ability to analyze and process this data is a critical element of research success.

High performance computing cluster is a need for modern time. You can use it to process a large amount of data.

In this article you will know about HPC cluster architecture, its examples, what are server clusters and a lot more in this regard.

What is High-performance Cluster Computing?

Cluster computing involves networking together 2 or more computers that provide solutions.

The clusters work in binding the computational power of computer nodes to offer increased computational power.

The client-server model is different from this as the client-server model requests one or more server while in the cluster computing multiple machines make use of a single OS to offer a robust computing environment.

Thus HPC clusters offer parallel computing by providing a solution to a problem with more processing power.

By HPC, you can solve complex calculations at rapid speed.

Types of Cluster Computing

These include:

1. Load Balancing clusters
2. High Availability clusters
3. High-performance clusters

1) Load Balancing Clusters

Here the nodes in the clusters are allowed to handle the request for the same application.

Multiple nodes having the same content distribute the incoming requests.

2) High Availability Clusters

They offer uninterrupted availability of services to their end users.

In this type, if a node is working, then there will be no issue in the availability of the application, and it will still be available.

The services are restored in a way that the cluster that is offering the services don’t get affected.

The main purpose of this cluster is to make sure that a cluster member runs only a single instance of an application at a time. If the cluster member isn’t working, or not available, then the application will move to other members.

3) High-Performance Clusters

This methodology makes use of supercomputers to find a solution to an advanced and complex problem.

Cluster Computing Software

These include:

• Docker Swarm
• Kubernetes
• Apache Mesos
• nonSIS
• xCAT
• OpenHPC
• Foreman
• Borg
• Microsoft Cluster Server
• CycleCloud
• Warewulf
• Stacki

HPC Cluster Architecture

The HPC cluster has small servers that are connected to network switches. It has a head node and many other computational nodes.

Nodes

The individual computers in HPC system are the nodes. Each node has a certain memory and access to the storage (this is the file system or the disks).

Headnode

The head node holds the responsibility of serving files to the client nodes.

The front nodes have the following components running on it.

• Scheduler
• NFS Server
• IB subnet manager

In small clusters, the head nodes have storages attached to them.

Front nodes configure all other nodes. Then the execution of the tasks takes place via schedulers.

Schedulers

This is a batch system by which the HPC systems manage the compute nodes sharing.

This system has commands for submitting, modifying and inquiring jobs.

Storage and File Systems

These file systems are used for medium-term storage. This means they are not for permanent.

What is a Server Cluster?

The server clusters appear in the network under a single host and have a single IP.

Group of servers functions together to offer high-quality services to their clients.

If anyone of the computer clusters fails to work, the work is switched to any other computer cluster.

The clients have 24/7 access to server resources.

Importance

This is much effective, scalable and a reliable method as compared to using a single computer.

They are used mainly for the applications that update their data regularly.

Server clusters can efficiently deal with hardware system failure, application software failures, and website failures.
Many organizations are moving to server clustering to improve their server’s uptime.

This also protects data.

How Server Cluster Works?

Here each server owns its local device.

It maintains a copy of the services performed by the cluster and the OS.

Every cluster uses a connection media to connect to the common devices.

In server clustering, one node works at a time. This is because each of the nodes gets its updates on a separate basis. When the one node is in the process of getting updates, the other ones are on a stand by mode.

All nodes of a cluster are connected to a shared storage system.

This way if any one of the nodes fails then the other nodes take the responsibility of the failed node.

Types of Server Clusters

These are:

a. Local Quorum Cluster

This type has only one node. It is mostly used for testing purposes.

b. Majority Node Set Cluster

Here each node has its copy of data in the cluster.

They are mostly used in geographically dispersed server clusters.

c. Single Quorum Device Cluster

It consists of multiple nodes having a one more than one cluster disks arrays.

The connection mechanism of these nodes is the bus.

Examples of High-performance Computing

HPC allows you to process a large amount of data and solve complex calculations rapidly.

Treatment

HPC is used in the simulation of chemical reactions. This is done to understand the disorders and propose precise treatments.

Genetic cause identification of human devices allows predictive management of the patients. Doctors in Slovenia used supercomputing infrastructure to accelerate the genetic diagnostic.

Human Brain Mapping

The human brain is among ht most complex systems known to humankind. “Human Brian project” is a fantastic project that offers a fantastic understanding of this organ.

This project offers a 3D mapping of the brain including brain slices images through a modern microscope. This mapping of brian involves analysis of compact cell patterns.

Scientists create brain mapping tools by using HPC and machine learning algorithms.

Climate Simulations

HPC is used in the simulation of weather forecasting, climate changes, and earth resource evolution.

Driverless Cars

Anonymous vehicles generate a large amount of data. This used to analyze their position, road conditions, passenger safety and comfort, and the vehicle’s conditions.

High-performance computing is used to manage all the data of such vehicles.

These cars have sensors GPS, in-car computers and embedded cameras.

AWS High-performance Computing

AWS cloud offers an effective solution to the failing infrastructure and much-needed speed and reliability.

Moreover, AWS users can comfortably get access to software libraries from the AWS marketplace.

Businesses can pace up with modern technology by moving their company’s HPC workload to the cloud.

AWS allows you to tackle the most commonly occurred challenges including high capital expenditures, technology obsolescence, and fixed infrastructure capacity.

AWS cloud complies with the security regulations including HIPAA, GDP PCI, and FISMA. Likewise, they help organizations work securely.

Final Words

High performance computing cluster has various applications.

It is used by many businesses to offer reliable services to their clients.

This system produces faster results and excellent quality of products by giving them access to high computing power.