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Enterprise AI Analysis: In-Transit Data Transport Strategies for Coupled AI-Simulation Workflow Patterns

In-Transit Data Transport Strategy Analysis

In-Transit Data Transport Strategies for Coupled AI-Simulation Workflow Patterns

This analysis focuses on optimizing data transport within coupled AI-Simulation HPC workflows, particularly for the Aurora supercomputer. We evaluate two common patterns: one-to-one co-located and many-to-one distributed, assessing various backends like node-local memory, Redis, DragonHPC, and Lustre file system to identify optimal strategies for different data sizes and scales.

Executive Impact: Key Metrics

1.5x Performance Improvement (One-to-One, Node-Local)
512 nodes Nodes Tested (Max)
10x Higher Data Transport Overhead (File System, 512 nodes)

Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications

Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.

Workflow Optimization
Benchmarking & Tools

The study highlights the increasing complexity of coupled AI-Simulation workflows in HPC, emphasizing the need for robust data transport strategies to avoid bottlenecks. Traditional file-based I/O is often insufficient for modern data volumes and low-latency demands, necessitating in-situ and in-transit approaches.

SimAI-Bench is introduced as a flexible framework for emulating and benchmarking AI-coupled HPC workflows. It provides mini-apps to model key task execution and data transfer patterns, enabling performance analysis of various data transport backends and deployment strategies on large-scale systems like Aurora.

One-to-One Workflow Data Flow

Simulation Component
In-Transit Data Staging
AI Training Component
Steering Feedback
1x Iteration Time Node-Local Overhead (One-to-One, 32MB)

Data Transport Backend Comparison (Pattern 1, 8 Nodes, 32MB)

Backend Performance Characteristics
Node-local
  • Excellent throughput
  • Low overhead
  • Scalable
DragonHPC
  • Good throughput
  • Similar to node-local at small scales
  • Stable performance at scale
Redis
  • Robust but lower throughput
  • Not as performant as DragonHPC
Filesystem (Lustre)
  • Reasonable for smaller scales/larger data
  • Degrades significantly at high node counts (512 nodes)
10x Iteration Time File System Overhead (One-to-One, 512 Nodes, 32MB)

Many-to-One Pattern: Scaling Challenge

The many-to-one workflow pattern, where multiple simulations feed a single AI model, presents significant data transport bottlenecks as the ensemble size grows. The centralized AI component needs to read data non-locally from all simulations, making distributed data access a critical factor for performance. This contrasts with the co-located one-to-one pattern where data exchange is primarily node-local.

Data Transport Backend Comparison (Pattern 2, 128 Nodes, 10MB)

Backend Key Finding
Redis
  • Slowest due to low non-local read throughput
  • Latency becomes a critical factor
DragonHPC
  • Significantly longer runtime for smaller messages (<10MB)
  • Performance dependent on message size
  • High point-to-point throughput doesn't always translate to best many-to-one performance
Filesystem (Lustre)
  • Most optimal solution for this pattern
  • Performs better than in-memory data stores, especially for smaller message sizes

Optimize Your AI-Simulation Workflow ROI

Estimate the potential annual savings and reclaimed hours by optimizing data transport in your HPC AI-Simulation workflows. Tailor the inputs to reflect your enterprise's operational scale and see the impact of efficient data staging.

Annual Savings $0
Hours Reclaimed Annually 0

Your AI-Simulation Workflow Optimization Roadmap

A phased approach to integrate efficient in-transit data transport and maximize your HPC investment.

Phase 1: Workflow Analysis & Benchmarking

Utilize SimAI-Bench to analyze existing AI-Simulation workflows, identify data transport patterns, and benchmark current performance bottlenecks. This involves profiling data movement and computational components.

Phase 2: Backend Prototyping & Optimization

Experiment with different data transport backends (node-local, DragonHPC, Redis, file systems) using SimAI-Bench mini-apps. Optimize configurations for specific workflow patterns (one-to-one, many-to-one) and data characteristics.

Phase 3: Integration & Deployment

Integrate the optimized data transport strategies into your production HPC AI-Simulation workflows. Leverage SimAI-Bench's modular design for seamless integration with existing workflow managers and PyTorch/dpnp frameworks.

Phase 4: Continuous Performance Monitoring

Establish a continuous monitoring framework to track data transport performance and workflow efficiency. Adapt and refine strategies as data volumes, model complexities, and HPC architectures evolve.

Transform Your HPC AI-Simulation Workflows

Ready to unlock peak performance and efficiency for your AI-driven scientific campaigns? Our experts can help you design and implement optimal in-transit data transport strategies tailored to your unique needs.

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