Multi-Provider Compute Platform Abstraction Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance computing (HPC) users face challenges in managing interdependencies between hardware and software environments across multiple providers, leading to complexity in resource allocation, software installation, and workflow management, which limits flexibility and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based compute platform with abstraction layers that integrates resources from multiple back-end hardware and software providers, automatically selecting and configuring computing resources, software, and license servers to match user demands, while simplifying workflow management and metering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If HPC users directly manage resources from multiple back-end providers, then resource allocation flexibility improves, but system complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based compute platform as an intermediary layer between HPC users and multiple back-end hardware/software providers. This platform abstracts the complexity of managing interdependencies across providers while enabling flexible resource allocation. The platform automatically selects and configures computing resources from different providers, shielding users from the underlying complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The compute platform provides a universal interface that works with multiple different back-end providers through abstraction layers. This multi-functional approach allows the same user interface and resource management mechanisms to operate across diverse hardware and software environments from different providers, enabling flexibility without requiring users to manage each provider's specific complexities.
2Reliability
If HPC users manually configure software and resources for each provider, then software compatibility improves, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compute platform performs preliminary actions by automatically selecting, configuring, and installing appropriate software on computing resources before HPC users execute their workflows. The platform's software layer pre-configures the environment based on the computational task requirements, eliminating the need for users to manually configure software for each provider and ensuring compatibility in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated software configuration and resource setup. The compute platform automatically matches software requirements with appropriate computing resources from back-end providers, installs necessary software components, and configures the environment without user intervention, thereby ensuring compatibility while minimizing time consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HPC users integrate multiple back-end providers, then resource diversity improves, but inter-provider communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compute platform serves as a mediating layer that handles all communication and coordination between HPC users and multiple back-end providers. It manages the complexity of integrating diverse resources by providing a unified interface, automatically translating user requests into provider-specific configurations, and handling inter-provider communication protocols, thereby enabling resource diversity without exposing integration complexity to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the system into distinct layers: the user-facing compute platform layer and the back-end provider layers. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with its own optimization, while the platform layer manages the integration complexity. By dividing the system into manageable segments with clear interfaces, the patent enables resource diversity from multiple providers without requiring users to directly manage the complex inter-provider integrations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes embodiments of systems and methods for addressing the interdependencies that result from integrating the computing resources of multiple hardware and software providers. The integrated, multi-provider cloud-based platform of the present invention employs abstraction layers for communicating with and integrating the resources of multiple back-end hardware providers, multiple software providers and multiple license servers. These abstraction layers and associated functionality free users not only from having to implement and configure provider-specific protocols, but also from having to address interdependencies among selected hardware, software and license servers on a job-level basis or at other levels of granularity.