Burst Buffer Appliance Asynchronous Checkpointing Message Logs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parallel computing systems face inefficiencies in synchronous checkpointing, which leads to resource wastage and high costs, and asynchronous checkpointing struggles with storing large message logs due to performance and cost issues related to memory and disk storage.
Innovation Solution
A burst buffer appliance is configured to communicate with compute nodes for message logging during asynchronous checkpointing, using high-speed flash memory and a partitioned data store like Multidimensional Data Hashing Indexing Middleware to store and manage message logs, allowing for efficient storage and reconstruction of the system state without requiring significant changes to existing infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synchronous checkpointing is used, then the storage system can capture a consistent system state, but resource utilization becomes extremely low and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static synchronous checkpointing to dynamic asynchronous checkpointing, where checkpoint timing is determined by application needs rather than fixed schedules. This allows the storage system to adaptively handle checkpoint requests, improving resource utilization while maintaining data consistency through logical clock mechanisms and vector clocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning checkpoint data in burst buffer storage before it is absolutely needed. This allows compute nodes to resume from pre-prepared checkpoints without waiting for storage system availability, thereby improving resource utilization while ensuring data recovery capability.
2Productivity
If asynchronous checkpointing is used, then resource utilization improves and throughput increases, but storing message logs becomes extremely expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The message log storage is segmented into two distinct layers: hot message logs stored in high-speed burst buffer storage for frequently accessed recent messages, and cold message logs stored in slower, cheaper parallel file system storage for historical messages. This segmentation reduces the cost of storing large volumes of message logs while maintaining fast access for recovery operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the storage parameters (speed, capacity, cost) by using different storage media for different portions of the message log. Burst buffer provides high-speed access for active message logs, while parallel file system provides high-capacity, low-cost storage for archived message logs, optimizing the balance between performance and cost.
3Quantity of substance
If message logs are stored in disk storage, then cost is reduced, but checkpoint reconstruction speed becomes extremely slow
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is segmented into two tiers: burst buffer storage for high-speed message log access during checkpoint reconstruction, and parallel file system for cost-effective long-term retention. This tiered architecture enables fast reconstruction by prioritizing access to recent message logs in burst buffer while maintaining affordability through cheaper storage for older logs.
Solution Approach 2:
The burst buffer acts as an intermediary between the compute nodes and the parallel file system. It caches frequently accessed message logs and provides high-speed access during checkpoint reconstruction, mediating between the speed requirements of recovery operations and the cost constraints of long-term storage.
Data Source
AI summary
Improved techniques are provided for asynchronous checkpointing in parallel computing environments. A burst buffer appliance is configured to communicate with a plurality of compute nodes of a parallel computing system over a network and also to store message logs for a plurality of processes executing on the compute nodes, wherein the plurality of processes employ asynchronous checkpointing. The processes executing on the compute nodes can exchange messages and/or perform other compute operations during an asynchronous checkpointing operation. The burst buffer appliance can optionally store checkpoint data that results from the asynchronous checkpointing operations. The burst buffer appliance can optionally store the messages using a partitioned data store, such as Multidimensional Data Hashing Indexing Middleware.