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VOLPEX: A Framework for Parallel Execution on Volatile Nodes
Most desktop computers are virtually idle most of the time. They represent an immense
pool of unused computation, communication, and data storage capacity. Available
compute power is expanding rapidly with the advent of multi-core systems. But these
nodes are "volatile" as their owners can make them unavailable suddenly and without
notice. The goal of Volpex is to address the challenge of parallel computing on
such volatile nodes. Here are some specific directions:
Volpex MPI
This project is developing an implementation of MPI customized for robust execution
on volatile nodes. Message passing exchanges are converted to Put/Get operations
executed asynchronously. VolPEx design is based on execution of 2 or more replicas
of each MPI process - the application progresses at the rate of the fastest replicas
and continues seamlessly on failure, as long as at least one replica for each process
is alive.
Volpex Dastaspace
Current systems for execution on volatile nodes such as, BOINC and Condor primarily
support execution of independent tasks on nodes. The central goal of Volpex Dataspace
is to enable execution of communicating parallel programs on volatile ordinary desktops.
We need a robust communication layer that facilitates data exchanges between tasks.
Key features:
- Abstract dataspace that acts as (intermediary) for data exchange between tasks
- Asynchronous exchange of data objects
- Well suited to redundant computation of tasks to handle volatile nature
Virtual Campus Supercomputing Center (VCSC)
UH VCSC provides researchers with the computational power of a very large cluster.
A VCSC is a BOINC [Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network computing which is an
open-source software platform for computing using volunteered resources]
project whose applications are supplied by campus researchers. The computing power
is supplied by campus PCs - computing lab machines, desktop and laptops belonging
to faculty, staff, and students, and home PCs belonging to alumni.
More information
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