Grid Computing The Future of Your Business?
Dr Simon J E Taylor (Brunel University) Dr Tamas Kiss (University of Westminster)
www.gridalliance.org.uk
Overview
• • • • • • What is Grid Computing Two types of Grid The WestFocus Grid The P-Grade Grid Portal GEMCLA Case studies
– Digital Signal Processing – ING Bank – Ford Motor Company
• An Invitation!
www.gridalliance.org.uk
What is Grid Computing?
• A user has a complex problem that requires many services/resources in order to • reduce computation time • access large databases
• access special equipments
• collaborate with other users
Internet
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Two basic Grid directions today – Utility Grids
e.g. The UK National Grid Service (NGS)
Core members: • Manchester • CCLRC RAL
Data clusters Compute clusters National HPC services
stable highly-available production quality Grid service to the UK research community
• Oxford • Leeds • CSAR • HPCx
Partner sites • Bristol • Cardiff • Lancaster
Westminster
• Westminster
www.gridalliance.org.uk
Two basic Grid directions – Desktop Grids
e.g. SETI@HOME - Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence
• 5 billion galactic radio signals recorded • Divided into 250 Kbytes blocks of data • Distributed to more than 4 million desktop computers in 226 countries for analysis
• 1200 CPU years/day • 38 TF sustained (Japanese Earth Simulator is 32 TF sustained)
• Highly heterogeneous: >77 different processor types
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The WestFocus Grid
• Utility Grid based on state-of-the-art Grid technology
– NGS: GT2 WestFocus: GT4
• Connects computer clusters at Westminster and Brunel Universities • Runs the P-GRADE Grid portal and GEMLCA • Connected to and interoperable with the UK NGS
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The WestFocus Desktop Grid
• Based on BOINC and SZTAKI desktop Grid technology • Thousands of laboratory PCs could be utilised from Westminster and Brunel
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The P-GRADE Grid Portal
Provides user-friendly access to the Grid
Visualise execution and download results
Log in to the portal
Execute workflow
Create application workflow
Map execution to available resources
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GEMLCA - Grid Execution Management for Legacy Code Applications
Legacy application: • Code from the past, maintained because it works • Often supports business critical functions • Not Grid enabled
What to do with legacy codes when utilising the Grid?
• •
•
Bin them and implement Grid enabled applications Reengineer them
Port them onto the Grid with minimum user effort
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GEMLCA
Grid Execution Management for Legacy Code Applications
3rd generation Grids
Web browser
Grid Site 1
Desktop 1
Web browser
GEMLCA P-GRADE Portal
LC 1
Legacy applications Grid Site 2
LC 2
Desktop N
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Legacy applications
Case Studies
• Digital Signal Processing • ING Bank • Ford Motor Company
www.gridalliance.org.uk
DSP application in the portal
The speedup
T Factor 18
20 22
Sequential ~19min
~3h 33min ~41h 53min
GEMLCA ~8min
35min ~7h 23min
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DSP application – desktop Grid
• Running on the WestFocus desktop Grid • Scales up to thousands of computers (currently more than 100 PCs connected from Westminster and Brunel) The speedup
T Factor Sequential GEMLCA DGrid
20
22
~3h 33min ~41h 53min ~~724h
~35min
~7h 23min
~1h 44min ~5h 4min ~46h 46min
24
~~141h
www.gridalliance.org.uk
ING Bank
• Financial modelling using Grid Computing • Measuring Credit Risk Exposure (for FM products) involves – Modelling the characteristics (cash flows) of the transaction – Modelling the stochastic nature of the risk factors (Interest rates, FX rates, etc) – Using Monte-Carlo simulation techniques to ‘revalue’ the transaction ‘Mark-to-market’ under various market scenarios – ‘Picking’ the ‘worst-case’ MtM at all future points in time.
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Approach
• Find out what the end user needs
– Faster Monte Carlo simulations
• Find out what the organisation can support
– Desktop Grid technology
• Build demonstrator
– Proof of concept
• Liaise with IT Department
– Sandbox testing
• Develop end user tools
– Embed Desktop Grid technology into application
www.gridalliance.org.uk
GridAlliance Benefits to ING
• Savings in time (& money!) – modelling of the range Accrual swap was N times quicker using grid computing with N computers • Savings in computational power/ resources • Ability to create and use models which are practical in terms of their utilisation of time & other resources • Areas that could benefit: – Pricing complex transactions – Counterparty credit risk modelling – Market risk modelling – Economic Capital modelling & that’s only counting areas which use Monte Carlo techniques!
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Ford Motor Company
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Ford Motor Company
• • • • • Engine production line simulation Each run takes 4-5 hours Many runs needed to support decisions Time is money! Solution Speed up experimentation via Grid Computing
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Approach
• Find out what the end user needs
– Faster production line simulation
• Find out what the organisation can support
– Desktop Grid technology
• Build demonstrator
– Proof of concept
• Liaise with IT Department
– Sandbox testing
• Develop end user tools
– Embed Desktop Grid technology into application
www.gridalliance.org.uk
Conclusions
• Grid Computing can make a real difference in your organisation NOW • GridAlliance staff can help you understand how • Come and see us at the ICT booth or…! GridAlliance Briefing July 12th 2006 University of Westminster Details at www.gridalliance.org.uk
www.gridalliance.org.uk