INFOBrief Dell-IBRIX Cluster File System Solution High-performance parallel, segmented file system for scale-out clusters, grid computing, and enterprise applications Capable of delivering linear scalability of performance, capacity and manageability Capable of delivering extremely high throughput (up to 1 TB/second) to 1000 s of nodes across a variety of workload access patterns. Supported on Dell PowerEdge 1850, 1855 and SC 1425 and Dell EMC CX3/5/700 Key Points Dell HPC Clusters can now be built using a highly scalable cluster file system from IBRIX 4 and Dell PowerEdge servers and Dell EMC storage IBRIX Fusion Parallel File System Solution is a software-based, parallel file system solution complete with logical volume manager, high availability features and a comprehensive management interface IBRIX Fusion allows system administrators to build file systems that can scale to up to petabytes of capacity in a single global namespace, and provide up to 1 terabyte/sec of aggregate I/O throughput performance independently and non-disruptively as the demands of the enterprise grow The result is a scalable, extensible, production environment that appeals to both end users and systems administrators, and dramatically improves application performance for cluster & scale-out computing environments Multi-purpose file system solution that is equally applicable for highperformance/high-bandwidth applications as well as meta-data intensive, small block enterprise applications EMC elabs qualified and listed on the EMC Support Matrix (ESM) Dell Product Group Page 1 Updated June 2005
Dell HPCC Overview High Performance Computing Clusters (HPCC) are a cost effective method for delivering a parallel computing system platform, targeted towards compute and data-intensive applications. Dell delivers high-volume, standards-based solutions into scientific and compute-intensive environments that can benefit from economies-of-scale, and add systems as requirements change. HPCC are popular methods for solving complex computing problems because of their low price points and excellent scalability. To perform high performance computing, organizations look for simple and low cost ways of managing and scaling out Linux environments, from small and simplistic to large and complex clusters. The low cost, openness and customer choice afforded by Linux architectures pose many challenges. Owing to the open source nature, lack of standards and the large number of tools, finding the right home-grown combination of cluster and systems tools and functionality can be difficult, time-consuming, expensive, and fraught with business risk. Dell s approach to HPCC is to build on best-in-class building blocks to develop optimal I/O and computational subsystems for our customers. Dell Product Group Page 2 July 2003
Benefits of Dell IBRIX Cluster File System Solution IBRIX's flagship product, IBRIX Fusion, can deliver increased application performance to enterprise computing environments utilizing a unique, software-based, parallel file system solution, complete with logical volume manager, high availability features, and a comprehensive management interface. Based on its patented Segmented File System architecture, the IBRIX Fusion Software Suite offers one of the most scalable, economical, enterprise-class, multi-purpose file system solution available in today's market. IBRIX Fusion helps to simplify management, deliver maximum flexibility, and reduce total cost of ownership. Scalable - Performance: Scales to GBs of throughput - Capacity: Scales to PB s of storage - Manageability: Scales to high node counts Enterprise Class - Multipurpose: Works with varied workloads and access patterns - Highly Available: Component level and server-server failover (optional) - Partial off-line operation during maintenance - EMC elabs qualified Easy to Use - Web-based GUI and CLI including wizards - Deployable as natively installed cluster FS or exportable via NFS/CIFS - On-line expansion of file system, storage and compute clients Target I/O Intensive Applications Media/Entertainment/Telecom Bio-Sciences/Pharmaceuticals Auto/Aviation/Manufacturing Internet/Web Services Financial Services EDA/High Technology Oil & Gas/Earth Sciences Product Description IBRIX Fusion Parallel File System Solution IBRIX Fusion is a purely software-based, fully-integrated, enterprise-class scalable file storage solution suite comprised of a highly scalable parallel file system, logical volume manager, highavailability features and a comprehensive management interface that includes a graphical user interface (GUI) and a command-line interface (CLI). Dell Product Group Page 3 July 2003
IBRIX Fusion is hardware, network, and protocol independent and can be accessed either using a client-side cluster file system driver or via industry standard network file access protocols such as NFS and CIFS. Dell Product Group Page 4 July 2003
IBRIX Feature Matrix Table 1. Key Features of IBRIX Feature Capability Potential Benefit Segmented File System architecture with no central metadata server Delivers linear scalability of throughput from a single file system, a single directory, or a single file Scales to up to high node counts in a single namespace and 1 terabyte/sec of aggregate bandwidth Applications run faster Increased cluster efficiency Increased accuracy of business decisions No duplication of data and increased storage utilization Fully-integrated Logical Volume Manager Multi-purpose Journaling Physical File System Scalable performance via the online addition of I/O servers and/or capacity --added to the storage pool independently Device discovery Unique cluster-wide humanfriendly device naming User-defined volume configurations for increased performance Efficient with small or large files and I/Os, with reads or writes and with random or sequential I/Os Crash resilient Segmented Lock Manager Scalable multi-node locking with no central lock manager Byte-range locking Pay as you grow solution System Administrators can customize a solution based on price/performance constraints Simplified management of very large configurations Low administrative overhead and TCO Use the same file system solution for all applications including High-Performance and commercial transactional applications Low administrative overhead and TCO Easy data sharing among application processes Tight data consistency Simplified application development High Availability (optional) Monitors hardware and software elements and detects failures Automatic active-active serverto-server failover and component level failover High service availability Rolling software upgrades Minimize downtime for planned system maintenance Dell Product Group Page 5 July 2003
Partial online operation File system remains usable at all times - even when portions of namespace are inaccessible Dynamic load balancing Enables re-provisioning of servers and storage while file system is online, balancing utilization of resources Comprehensive management Simple, easy-to-use, intuitive, standards based Web-based GUI Cluster status and performance viewable on one-screen Minimum impact from catastrophic or multiple cascaded failures Increased cluster efficiency Minimize downtime Manage complex parallel file system configurations as easily as simple traditional systems Low administrative overhead and TCO Scriptable CLI Software-only design Runs on standard server platforms with no special hardware requirements Uses any combination of SANattached or direct-attached storage to build a file system Standards compliant Uses only industry-standard protocols such as TCP/IP and Fibre Channel Does not modify the Linux kernel Preserve existing investments while helping to increase hardware utilization Allow a best-of-breed approach High flexibility Limits risk Leverages existing infrastructure, helping to further reduce TCO Table 2. Dell Software And Hardware Support Matrix IBRIX is fully tested and validated on the following Dell cluster bundles, including Servers, Storage, Interconnects building blocks, and Platform ROCKS cluster software. Cluster Sub-System Server Client nodes PowerEdge 1850, PowerEdge 1855, PowerEdge SC 1425 Segment Servers PowerEdge 1850 ITA node and FusionManager PowerEdge 1850 Storage Dell EMC CX300,500, 700 Interconnect Software /OS Myrinet, Infiniband, and Gigabit Ethernet 1 for IPC fabric Gigabit Ethernet for I/O fabric RHEL 3.0, AS (Master, Segment and FusionManager Servers) RHEL 3.0 WS (Compute Nodes) Platform ROCKS 4 Enterprise Edition Dell Product Group Page 6 July 2003
IBRIX Fusion (File System) Support Dell HPCC Bundles IBRIX Fusion ( 3-Year / 24x7; 1 Year and 8x5 options) Platform ROCKS (1 year and 3 year options) Dell supports 8-256 node bundles with Infiniband, Myrinet and Gigabit Ethernet IBRIX file system scales with clusters from 2 to 1000+ nodes Dell Service and Support Options Every Dell HPCC solution comes with the following: Three year limited warranty 2 and three years of standard Next Business Day (NBD) parts replacement and one year of NBD on-site 3 labor for Dell PowerEdge Servers One year limited warranty 2 and One year of standard Next Business Day (NBD) parts replacement and one year of NBD on-site 3 labor for Dell PowerEdge SC Servers 30-day Getting Started help line DirectLine network operating system support upgrades available with three-year limited warranty 2 Telephone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for the duration of the three-year limited warranty 2. Dell Professional Services offers additional services to assist in: Solution Design Consultation Installation and Setup Pre-staging of solution at off-site location Related Web Sites http://www.dell.com/hpcc http://www.beowulf.org/ http://www.rocksclusters.org http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/pedge/topics/en/8g_launch?c=us &cs=555&l=en&s=biz Dell cannot be responsible for errors in typography or photography. 1 This term does not connote actual operating speed of 1 Gb/sec. For high-speed transmission, connection to a Gigabit Ethernet server and network infrastructure is required. 2 For a copy of our Guarantees or Limited Warranties, please write Dell USA, L.P., Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682. For more information, visit www.dell.com/service_contracts. 3 Service may be provided by third-party. Technician will be dispatched if necessary following phone-based troubleshooting. Subject to parts availability, geographical restrictions and terms of service contract. Service timing dependent upon time of day call placed to Dell. U.S. only. 4 Platform ROCKS includes software developed by the Rocks Cluster Group at the San Diego Supercomputer Center and its contributors. Dell, OpenManage and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc. 4 IBRIX and IBRIX Fusion are the trademarks of IBRIX. Dell Product Group Page 7 July 2003
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Copyright 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. For more information contact Dell. Dell Product Group Page 8 July 2003