working with integrators ICC recently worked with The National
Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, on the Dark Energy Project. One question was how to address the computational needs of the project given the signifi cant amount of data involved, but ICC used an LSI technology to show that it was possible. Stolyar commented that they reached a much higher performance level than expected: ‘We are getting 20 times more performance than their previous architecture. Part of that is down to the technology being used in the system – technology that the end- user wouldn’t have known of had they not worked with us.’
Why an integrator comes into play When it comes to new hardware and software developments, there are many options on the market, which is precisely where an integrator’s knowledge and expertise is needed. Julian Fielden, MD of OCF, a high-performance server and storage cluster integrator based in Sheffi eld, UK, points out that integrators are used because a typical HPC solution tends not to be the product of any one vendor. ‘You can have a system where the hardware may come from a typical vendor, in our case most likely IBM, and then there will be software and high- performance interconnects; all of which can come from different sources. These all need integrating in order to become a system as opposed to disparate parts.’ Providing this service is not
an easy task, and understanding new technologies and demands is also critical in providing the optimal solution for clients. ‘To a degree, the hardware is now less of a challenge; understanding the customer’s applications, environment, priorities and, ultimately, their expectations from a given project is more of a driving factor,’ explains Manoj Nayee, managing director of Boston Ltd. Nayee comments that the UK HPC market for integration is somewhat ‘cut-throat’ when it comes to price, and that as a result several integrators have disappeared over the last few years. ‘We come up against Tier-1 integrators on predominantly larger, more prestige opportunities that
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unfortunately are usually predetermined by price as opposed to the user receiving, in our experience, the right solution,’ he says.
Companies like Boston provide the assembly, testing and validation of high-performance computing solutions
Making a choice There are a number of factors that can sway the decision of which integrator an end user should choose to work with; not least of which is cost. However, a far more defi ning consideration is one of capability, as Fielden explains: ‘Systems are becoming increasingly complex and therefore need higher levels of professional support in order for them to provide an effective service to the users. Part of that comes down to the relationship between the integrator and the HPC vendors, and if someone is considering investing money in an HPC system, they should look closely at that relationship as part of their due diligence. ‘In order for ongoing system support to
TO A DEGREE, THE
HARDWARE IS NOW LESS OF A CHALLENGE; UNDERSTANDING THE CUSTOMER’S APPLICATIONS, ENVIRONMENT, PRIORITIES AND, ULTIMATELY, THEIR EXPECTATIONS FROM A GIVEN PROJECT IS MORE OF A DRIVING FACTOR
Considerations when working with an integrator
Technical expertise
be effective, those links need to be in place; without them, users might fi nd the support is not there in a timely manner. In order to judge the strength and skill-sets of an integrator, it is also useful for a potential customer to look at the ecosystem of that particular company. Often in HPC the breakthroughs are made by smaller companies with innovative ideas, and so it’s always useful for an integrator to have links with a broad range of companies.’ Fielden points out that this can be investigated by looking at the level of accreditation schemes and partner programmes that exists between the organisations. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the customer needs
HPC integration is a broad term. Be sure that the integrator you choose has experience with the type of system you require. Find out if this is evidenced by qualifi cations, such as special certifi cations or licences.
Client references
Ask for a list of clients willing to recommend the integrator. When speaking to those customers, fi nd out as much as you can about their experiences, both in terms of the integration and the on-going support of the solution.
Relationships
What links does the integrator have with the vendors? Are they part of any partnership programmes? Answering these questions is an important fi rst step in discovering the level of support you will receive.
Clear requirements
Some functionality may seem desirable, but will it really be used? Be specifi c about your needs, fi nancial limits, and any time constraints.
Training
Choose an integrator that provides on-going guidance for using the system and can answer any questions that may arise from users as they get to know it.
to ask questions and request appropriate references from the underlying vendor companies. Before investing, users should satisfy themselves that the integrator is capable of providing and subsequently supporting the solution they need. ‘The other important thing is that work needs to be done professionally – a systems integrator must have ISO 9000 accreditation, deliver projects according to professional project management guidelines, and be able to support the system successfully after integration. Integrators do that by having clearly defi ned service level agreements and operating to them.’ says Fielden. ‘Although many integrators
have access to the same components, it’s important for them to have up-to-date
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