August 2022 Summaries

Organizations frequently prioritize digital transformation in areas like ERP and CRM but often overlook R&D and engineering, where high-performance computing (HPC) is essential. Historically, HPC required substantial on-premises investment, leading to reluctance in adopting cloud solutions due to concerns over security and ownership. However, cloud-based HPC offers significant advantages, such as elasticity, scalability, and a more favorable OPEX cost model, making it increasingly attractive. Companies like Rescale provide HPC as-a-service (HPCaaS), facilitating seamless integration with hybrid-cloud infrastructure and enabling IT teams to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure management. Despite these benefits, cultural resistance to change remains a barrier, underscoring the importance of organizational buy-in for successful digital transformation. Rescale's cloud-based solutions empower R&D and engineering teams by enhancing resource efficiency and enabling faster product development, aligning with broader digital transformation objectives.

FUN3D is a suite of advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools developed by NASA to model fluid flow in various engineering designs and is made available to the public through the NASA Technology Transfer Program. It is accessible to authorized U.S. users and organizations, including commercial entities, and can now be run on Rescale's high-performance computing (HPC) cloud platform, which supports ITAR compliance and FedRAMP authorization. The software is particularly beneficial for complex and large-scale simulations due to its flexibility and high accuracy, making it suitable for a wide range of aerospace applications such as launch vehicles and flight experiments. Rescale's collaboration with NVIDIA has enhanced FUN3D's computational performance by utilizing NVIDIA GPUs, demonstrating superior cost-performance benefits over traditional CPU-only infrastructure. This partnership has enabled companies like XTI Aircraft to accelerate the development of innovative aircraft designs by leveraging the enhanced speed and efficiency of GPU-accelerated simulations. Rescale's benchmarking analysis showed significant performance and cost advantages when running FUN3D on GPU infrastructure, and they recommend customers consider this option for their simulations. Rescale offers a streamlined deployment process for users, allowing them to easily access and run FUN3D in the cloud with minimal IT support.

Rescale is advancing sustainable computing by serving engineering-driven companies with High Performance Computing (HPC) to develop innovative projects like electric aerial transport and nuclear fusion reactors while addressing the industry's significant carbon footprint. The company emphasizes that data centers, which contribute to 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, need to become more sustainable, particularly as computing demand rises. Rescale's Sustainable Computing Initiative aims to enhance hardware utilization, optimize workload performance, reduce power consumption with modern architectures, and power computing with sustainable energy. They collaborate with partners like Responsible Compute to implement new infrastructure, such as the "Basalt" core type based on Intel's 'Ice Lake' architecture, which operates in Iceland using clean hydroelectric power. Rescale's commitment aligns with global trends towards transparency and net-zero commitments, underscoring their role in balancing innovation and sustainability in computing.