DEEP Project Testing Smart Acceleration for Clusters

Thomas Lippert

Thomas Lippert

Over at the ISC Blog, Thomas Lippert from the Jülich Supercomputing Centre writes that the DEEP project for exascale research is pushing the limits when it comes to programming models.

Rather than following the conventional approach of “accelerated clusters” using closely paired CPUs with co-processors in a 1-to-n scheme, DEEP advances heterogeneity to the system level, in this case, a general-purpose HPC cluster combined with a tightly coupled many core system – what we call the Booster. This means applications can run on an optimal n-to-m combination of CPUs and co-processors. An easy-to-use and dynamic parallel offload model based on OmpSs enables applications to take maximum advantage of this and run code components on the parts of system that best match their characteristics. So far, so good – in theory. That’s why, some 25 months into the project, it’s about time for the first proof of our concept.

Read the Full Story or check out the ISC’14 BoF session: “Exascale Research: The European Approach” which takes place Tuesday June 24 at 2:15pm in Hall 5.