Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - HPC on AWS: Solve complex problems with pay-as-you-go infrastructure (CMP205)

Summary

The session focused on High-Performance Computing (HPC) on AWS, its importance, and how AWS has evolved to support HPC workloads.
The speaker discussed the initial skepticism about AWS's ability to handle supercomputing tasks and how AWS overcame performance, security, and cost concerns.
HPC applications in various industries were highlighted, including aerodynamics, energy, and drug discovery.
AWS's approach to HPC involves working backwards from customer needs, leading to the development of specialized HPC instances and services.
AWS introduced HPC6A (AMD-based), HPC6ID (Intel-based), and HPC7G (Graviton3-based) instances tailored for HPC workloads.
AWS Nitro System was emphasized for its ability to minimize virtualization penalties and provide near-metal performance.
AWS's Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) was presented as a solution for low-latency, high-throughput networking, comparable to InfiniBand.
Amazon FSx for Lustre was introduced as a high-performance file system integrated with S3 for dynamic storage provisioning.
AWS Batch and AWS Parallel Cluster were discussed as solutions for job scheduling and cluster management.
A case study from Eli Lilly showcased their cloud migration journey for drug discovery using AWS services.
The session concluded with examples of diverse HPC applications on AWS and an invitation to explore more detailed sessions.

AWS has made significant strides in HPC, addressing initial industry skepticism by demonstrating performance, security, and cost-effectiveness.
The development of specialized HPC instances indicates AWS's commitment to providing tailored solutions for compute-intensive workloads.
AWS's Nitro System and EFA technology are critical in achieving high performance and low latency, which are essential for HPC applications.
The integration of FSx for Lustre with S3 for dynamic storage provisioning reflects AWS's focus on flexibility and cost-efficiency in resource management.
AWS's support for Kubernetes through AWS Batch for EKS shows an understanding of the industry's shift towards container orchestration for workload management.
The case study from Eli Lilly highlights the practical benefits of cloud migration for HPC in the pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing speed, scalability, and cost optimization.
AWS's recognition by the HPC wire awards as the preferred cloud for HPC workloads reinforces its position as a leader in the cloud HPC market.
The session underscores the broad applicability of HPC across industries and the potential for innovation when leveraging AWS's HPC capabilities.