The Simpler Path to LEADING-EDGE Clusters

High Performance and
Simplicity from Low-Latency
iWARP Technology
Because Ethernet networks are
ubiquitous, high manufacturing volumes
help make them extremely cost effective.
While that advantage alone makes the use
of Ethernet fabrics for high-performance
computing cluster trafc very attractive,
there were two primary challenges.
First, this era of high-performance
multicore servers creates the need for
network bandwidth higher than 1 Gigabit
(1GbE is standard on most servers today).
Fortunately, the broad availability of
10GbE network components provided
a solution.
Second, standard Ethernet cannot
meet the stringent network-latency
requirements of cluster computing
applications. That challenge is addressed
by iWARP, which species standard
extensions to TCP/IP for effective RDMA
(Remote Direct Memory Access) transport.
NetEffect Server Cluster Adapters from
Intel implement iWARP technology to
enable high performance on a standards-
based, cost effective Ethernet fabric:
• Low latency is delivered to standard
Ethernet by means of iWARP, providing
an RDMA-over-Ethernet solution.
• Standards-based operation is enabled
with an open source RDMA software
stack for iWARP provided by the
OpenFabrics Alliance
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.
• Broad compatibility is achieved through
the use of existing Ethernet network
equipment and pervasive management
tools and expertise.
The use of iWARP technology in the
solution stack from Intel Cluster Ready
and Clustercorp enables high-performance
computing implementations to realize the
cost effectiveness of Ethernet fabrics,
without modifying existing networks
or equipment. Moreover, the continuing
pace of innovation in Ethernet technology
allows these networks to readily benet
from advances such as Data Center
Bridging, low-latency switches, and
enhancements to IP security.
The use of a single fabric to support both
application and management trafc helps
reduce the complexity of the solution.
Using 10GbE also allows a smaller number
of cables to support network bandwidth
requirements relative to using GbE,
simplifying the cable infrastructure even
further. As a result, the solution as a
whole helps to lower the likelihood of
cabling errors, and it is very efcient with
regard to equipment and operating costs.
Streamlined Provisioning
and Management from
Clustercorp Rocks+®
Clustercorp Rocks+ is a suite of
middleware components that support
iWARP and integrate the server hardware,
Linux* operating system, and application
software into a coherent whole. This
approach dramatically simplies
deployment and management of cluster
infrastructure, and also provides a full
complement of integrated tools. It offers
a number of capabilities that help ensure
smooth operation and fast, low-risk
cluster implementation:
• Pre-packaged software components
are provided by Clustercorp Rocks+
Rolls for a single-source, seamless
software stack.
• Streamlined installation accelerates
deployment with automated compute-
node provisioning.
• Centralized management from the head
node includes automatic configuration
and monitoring to maintain cluster health.
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