The Future of Scientific Computing

The cloud rocks. To make a hybrid cloud, you need a private cloud component. Private cloud scares off the universities because it is sooooo expensive. But, that’s okay. Because they probably have a HPC cluster which totally can be converted to the private cloud component they need for cheap. With that issue out of the way, we now need the technology to make the ensuing hybrid clouds harder, better, stronger, faster, because their work is never over. Till we replace them anyway.

Step 1: Bigger IS better. Expand, expand and expand. This is super easy now, because you just go to your centralized control panel for the public cloud component, click the magic “expand your cloud” buttons and fork over more money. VOILA! Your minuscule, insufficient cloud becomes a super-powered behemoth that will have no problems whatsoever handling the $^!+ you throw at it. Did we bother to mention that it is way faster since you just need to wait for that “requisitioning” loading bar to reach the finish and be a champ (estimated time tops out at 1 hour), compared to waiting 3 days to 4 weeks (this is an optimistic estimate) for your fancy new workstations to arrive from a supplier?

Step 2: Free stuff! We all love free stuff. If you deny it, your pants are probably on fire right now! Unavoidably, we do need to pay the public cloud service provider because they are working so hard to provide us the wonderful miracle known as the cloud. However the software holding your cloud together need not be paid for if we can subscribe to DIY. And, guess what? Some kind, ambitious and generous souls provide us free cloud software in the form of OpenStack. OpenStack, in case the name wasn't a total give-away, is an open source software that provides its powers in return for you just helping to expand it (if you so dare) and basically using it for the greater good. The more people who try this fancy-schmancy software out in different configurations (and bother to document it), the more useful it becomes. So yeah, join us! Set up your cloud now and install this freebie all over it! Then tell the rest of us how it was done so we can pay you the ultimate compliment in the form of plagiarism.

Step 3: Increasing the efficiency. We all make wishes to Santa and when it comes to asking for computing devices, we always ask for MOAR POWAH! But, eastern martial arts have taught us that sometimes it is not the maximum amount of power you put into the blow, it is how the power is utilized. That is why the tiny, Asian lady can knock over a car with the right technique. If efficiency is maximized, you can get way more out of your small, 600cc, engine than if you have a turbo charged monster which you utilize badly. So, how are we going to increase efficiency? In a hybrid cloud, the most important bit is to ensure that the transfer between the private and public clouds is as smooth as possible. Just like in a marriage, good communication is essential. Any counselor would tell you to maintain open channels of communication to avoid messy divorces and alimony payments. Likewise, if data transfer speeds between your clouds are slow (bad communication, right there), that power house public cloud may spend tons of time cooling its jets while waiting for the next batch of data to arrive for processing. Time spent in the not working camp equals wasted time and the more of this form of camping done, the lousier your efficiency.

Other points to consider would be software-hardware integration. Look at your zippy iPhone. Done? It probably brought happy memories of its silky smooth user interface to the surface. Under the hood, its raw specs trail behind any other flagship phone out there. Yet, it is still the king in actual performance. The magic lies in hardware-software integration. Software specially tailored to the hardware within brings out powers unparalleled. Imagine if we can create specialized software for your hybrid cloud and bring those performance benefits to your IT solution. Now, stop imagining, and start building it! It can be done. We have the technology.

Step 4: Platform agnosticism. Works anywhere, anytime. As long as you have the internetz. Yay. Requirements? A web based cloud control panel. The public cloud has one. What about your hybrid, then? Wait a minute…… Open stack does exactly that! Honest. I told you that already. Read above Step 2. Implement and get this as a bonus. Did I mention it’s free?

So to sum up: The future which spells doom for your traditional computer cluster are those hybrids. The super awesomeness of the public cloud coupled with the private cloud that caters to your super specialized needs. Making your computing facility bigger and stronger has never been easier thanks to the flexibility of the public cloud. A few upgrades are needed to squeeze more juice out of your performance lemon to get better lemonade. Smarter software that can increase efficiency through better data transfer between the clouds and also specially tailored to the hardware of your hybrid will give you more BOOM for your $$$. Finally, accessibility needs to be worked on in the shape of platform agnosticism. Open stack provides this for free. What are you waiting for? Go, build a hybrid, and step into the future!