High-Performance Computing (HPC) on AWS enables businesses in different industries to run complex simulations, data analytics, and other types of demanding workloads through scalable, cloud-based solutions.
What is High-Performance Computing (HPC) on AWS?
High-Performance Computing (HPC) refers to the use of powerful computing resources to solve complex problems that require significant processing power. Instead of relying on a single computer, HPC systems use clusters of advanced computers working together to perform large-scale simulations, intricate calculations, and data analysis at high speeds.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides businesses with on-demand access to computing power, storage, and networking.
With AWS, organizations can leverage HPC to run large simulations and deep learning workloads without investing in expensive physical infrastructure.
AWS High-Performance Computing Services
AWS offers a range of specialized building block services designed to support High-Performance Computing.
- AWS Batch – Helps you run batch computing workloads
- AWS Parallel Computing Service – A service that simplifies running and scaling HPC workloads.
- Research and Engineering Studio on AWS – Cloud desktops for research.
- AWS ParallelCluster – An open-source tool that helps deploy aHPC clusters in the AWS Cloud.
- Amazon EC2 – A scalable cloud computing platform offering customizable hardware and software configurations to meet demand.
- Elastic Fabric Adapter – A lower latency network device that enhances AI, ML, and HPC applications.
- Amazon FSx –A parallel file system service.
- Amazon DCV – A high-performance remote display protocol for securely delivering remote desktops and application streaming to any device.
Key Benefits of Amazon Web Services for HPC
Harnessing AWS for High-Performance Computing provides organizations with scalable and cost-effective solutions to run complex workloads efficiently.
Broad Range of Cloud-Based Services
AWS offers a wide range of cloud services and HPC tools, allowing businesses to rapidly solve complex problems without investing in physical infrastructure. Services such as AWS Batch, AWS Parallel Computing Service, and Amazon EC2 provide the necessary computational power and tools to handle intensive simulations and data processing tasks.
On-Demand Access
With AWS, businesses gain on-demand access to compute capacity, ensuring they only pay for what they use through a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
For additional information, our eBook, “TotalCAE Infinite on AWS – A Guide to Digitally Transform Product Innovation with TotalCAE”, explores different cloud purchasing options and explains why 100% On-Demand pricing is often the most expensive way to run HPC workloads.
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Flexibility
AWS supports a diverse range of instance types, major CPU vendors, and operating systems, making it highly adaptable to different computational needs. Whether running specialized simulations, AI-driven analytics, or large-scale engineering workloads, AWS provides the flexibility to optimize resources based on performance and budget requirements.
Types of Workloads AWS Can Handle
HPC on AWS supports a wide range of workloads, accelerating innovation across industries.
Simulation and Modeling
AWS enables businesses to run complex simulations, allowing engineers to virtually test, analyze, and optimize product and component designs.
This includes evaluating structural strength, stiffness, and deformation, simulating fluid flow for aerodynamic performance, and analyzing heat transfer characteristics to ensure thermal efficiency. Additionally, HPC also allows to simulate electromagnetic fields and their interactions with materials, along with many other demanding computational tasks.
High-Performance Data Analytics (HPDA)
HPDA combines high-performance computing, data analytics, and big data to generate insights from vast and complex datasets quickly. It enables organizations to augment research, decision-making, and intelligence at scale.
Common Use Cases
A wide variety of organizations in many industries use HPC on AWS, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and more.
Automotive & Autonomous Vehicles
HPC allows automotive companies to simulate, test, and design vehicle components for safety and aerodynamics. HPC enables large-scale autonomous vehicle (AV) simulations, running billions of virtual driving miles to accelerate AV development.
Here’s a real success story of a TotalCAE client taking advantage of AWS High-Performance Computing services and TotalCAE’s solutions:
Lucid Motors adopted TotalCAE’s cloud-enabled simulation platform on AWS, gaining virtually unlimited computing capacity to power their simulations. By leveraging TotalCAE’s solutions and the power of AWS, Lucid Motors achieved faster turnaround times for crash simulations, enabling more efficient design iterations and helping them meet tight development timelines.
Learn more by visiting our Success Stories page.
Oil & Gas
Seismic data processing helps identify hydrocarbon reserves and optimal drilling sites with greater accuracy. Reservoir simulations predict fluid flow, temperature, and pressure to optimize production strategies. HPC is also used to simulate the fluid flowl through pipes, and enhances predictive maintenance, reducing operational risks and equipment failures.
Aerospace
AWS High-Performance Computing solutions support aerodynamic optimization by simulating airflow patterns around aircraft, enabling better fuel efficiency and performance. Structural analysis ensures the integrity of aircraft components under various conditions. Additionally, HPC contributes to space exploration and research, aiding in spacecraft design and mission planning.
Weather
HPC enables high-resolution weather modeling using WRF and accelerates the processing of vast datasets, allowing scientists to predict severe weather events with greater precision and speed.
Healthcare
HPC scales DNA sequencing technologies, reducing costs while increasing efficiency. It supports intensive clinical trial simulations and accelerates the research and discovery of methods to combat illnesses.
Explore our High-Performance Computing Examples & Applications article to learn more.
Best Practices for AWS HPC Deployments
Optimizing HPC on AWS requires careful planning and configuration to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and cost efficiency. Here are some best practices for AWS HPC deployments to keep in mind.
- Use HPC instances such as HPC7a, HPC6id.
- Use GPU enabled instances for AI workloads and GPU native codes.
- Use Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) for lower latency scale out jobs
- Use a placement group
- Avoid Hyper-Threading (HT)
- Process data with a parallel file system like FSx for Lustre
- Choose the right HPC instance type for your application
- Leverage NICE DCV for cloud desktops to avoid data transfer.
If you want to learn more, make sure to explore our eBook “TotalCAE Infinite on AWS”, in this eBook, we provide a description of an HPC cluster architecture and the basic building blocks used in TotalCAE’s solutions.
Harness the Power of HPC on AWS With TotalCAE
Moving from on-premises HPC to a cloud-based solution can be complex, requiring careful planning, resource management, and technical expertise. At TotalCAE, we simplify this transition with our managed cloud HPC solutions so businesses can focus on their core tasks without IT headaches.
For a deeper understanding of cloud adoption, check out our eBook: “TotalCAE Infinite on AWS – A Guide to Digitally Transform Product Innovation with TotalCAE”. It offers valuable insights into overcoming cloud adoption barriers, cloud purchase options, performance tuning, and how TotalCAE’s solutions work.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business make the most of HPC in the cloud!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about AWS and HPC.
How Much Does HPC on AWS Cost?
Similar to other cloud providers, AWS operates with multiple billing types. The most popular is the pay-as-you-go model, meaning you only pay for what you use. Additionally, AWS offers Reserved Instances and Savings Plans. We explain the differences between these options in detail in our eBook.
What Are AWS Instance Types?
AWS provides a range of instance types to match different workloads, allowing businesses to choose the right mix of compute, memory, and storage resources. These include:
- General purpose instances
- Compute optimized instances
- Memory optimized instances
- Accelerated computing instances
- Storage optimized instances
- HPC optimized instances
What HPC Services Does AWS Offer?
AWS provides a variety of HPC building blocks, including:
- AWS Batch
- AWS Parallel Computing Service
- Research and Engineering Studio on AWS
- AWS ParallelCluster
- Amazon EC2
- Elastic Fabric Adapter
- Amazon FSx
- Amazon DCV
TotalCAE Turnkey Platform leverages AWS HPC API’s so our clients don’t have to be experts in the technology and can focus on engineering, not IT.