Compare HPE Pointnext vs. Intel oneAPI HPC Toolkit vs. Lustre

The convergence of high-performance computing (HPC) and machine learning is placing unprecedented requirements on storage solutions, as the input/output demands of these two distinct workloads diverge significantly. This shift is occurring at this very moment, with a recent analysis from the independent firm Intersect360 revealing that a striking 63% of current HPC users are actively implementing machine learning applications. Furthermore, Hyperion Research projects that, if trends continue, public sector organizations and enterprises will see HPC storage expenditures increase at a rate 57% faster than HPC compute investments over the next three years. Reflecting on this, Seymour Cray famously stated, "Anyone can build a fast CPU; the trick is to build a fast system." In the realm of HPC and AI, while creating fast file storage may seem straightforward, the true challenge lies in developing a storage system that is not only quick but also economically viable and capable of scaling effectively. We accomplish this by integrating top-tier parallel file systems into HPE's parallel storage solutions, ensuring that cost efficiency is a fundamental aspect of our approach. This strategy not only meets the current demands of users but also positions us well for future growth.

High-performance computing (HPC) serves as a fundamental element for applications in AI, machine learning, and deep learning. The Intel® oneAPI HPC Toolkit (HPC Kit) equips developers with essential tools to create, analyze, enhance, and expand HPC applications by utilizing the most advanced methods in vectorization, multithreading, multi-node parallelization, and memory management. This toolkit is an essential complement to the Intel® oneAPI Base Toolkit, which is necessary to unlock its complete capabilities. Additionally, it provides users with access to the Intel® Distribution for Python*, the Intel® oneAPI DPC++/C++ compiler, a suite of robust data-centric libraries, and sophisticated analysis tools. You can obtain everything needed to construct, evaluate, and refine your oneAPI projects at no cost. By signing up for an Intel® Developer Cloud account, you gain 120 days of access to the latest Intel® hardware—including CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs—and the full suite of Intel oneAPI tools and frameworks. This seamless experience requires no software downloads, no configuration processes, and no installations, making it incredibly user-friendly for developers at all levels.

The Lustre file system is a parallel, open-source file system designed to cater to the demanding requirements of high-performance computing (HPC) simulation environments often found in leadership class facilities. Whether you are part of our vibrant development community or evaluating Lustre as a potential parallel file system option, you will find extensive resources and support available to aid you. Offering a POSIX-compliant interface, the Lustre file system can efficiently scale to accommodate thousands of clients, manage petabytes of data, and deliver impressive I/O bandwidths exceeding hundreds of gigabytes per second. Its architecture includes essential components such as Metadata Servers (MDS), Metadata Targets (MDT), Object Storage Servers (OSS), Object Server Targets (OST), and Lustre clients. Lustre is specifically engineered to establish a unified, global POSIX-compliant namespace suited for massive computing infrastructures, including some of the largest supercomputing platforms in existence. With its capability to handle hundreds of petabytes of data storage, Lustre stands out as a robust solution for organizations looking to manage extensive datasets effectively. Its versatility and scalability make it a preferable choice for a wide range of applications in scientific research and data-intensive computing.