Editor's Pick: Clusters Optimized for CAE

By Anthony J. Lockwood

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

HPC is where it's at for you people who need high throughput and the ability to run large, detailed simulations that would choke a workstation. But figuring out what you need to do get into HPC is not where it's at. In fact, it's a drag. Such a drag, that you often have too little power available to match your investment in software power. Appro International is out to change that.

Appro has begun to offer what it calls the Appro Ready-To-Go Cluster series. These clusters are pre-tested, integrated, certified Intel Cluster Ready, and optimized to run ANSYS applications. They even include pre-installed cluster management software. Essentially, what you do is set up your Linux-based Ready-To-Go cluster, get some training, and everybody gets back to work.

The Appro Ready-To-Go Cluster series is available in configurations that support 4, 8, and 16 nodes (32 to 128 cores), and they run Intel Xeon 5500 processors at speeds of up to 2.93GHz. They come with the interconnects, memory, storage, and everything you need to get up and running. Appro pre-tests the clusters with Intel Cluster Checker software, so you are ensured that ANSYS and all the system components work well with each other. And Appro Ready-To-Go cluster setups are scalable, so you can build your cluster up and out as your needs change or budget allows.

You can read all about the specs and download datasheets, case studies, and the like from today's Pick of the Week write-up. What is your most important takeaway today is that Appro has had a lot of good ideas for HPC and supercomputing over the years, ranging from power-efficiency to its commitment to easy scalability to performance-optimized platforms. With its Appro Ready-To-Go Cluster series, the company adds another good idea: HPC clustering optimized for CAE applications. This is a good one folks.

Thanks, Pal. -- Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editor at large, Desktop Engineering

Read today's Pick of the Week write-up.