1. Simplifying Resource Management in HPC

The EF HPC Portal provides a centralized platform to manage compute, storage, and application resources efficiently. It enables organizations to:

• Streamline job scheduling and application submission processes.

• Optimize resource utilization through advanced monitoring and analytics.

• Provide intuitive, browser-based access to HPC environments for engineers, researchers, and IT teams.
   

Challenges Without EF HPC Portal:

• Inefficient resource allocation leads to underutilization or overutilization of compute nodes.

• Complex command-line interfaces make HPC systems less accessible to non-technical users.

• Limited integration with modern tools and schedulers hinders productivity and scalability.

2. Key Features and Best Practices for Optimizing HPC with EF HPC Portal

2.1 Intuitive Job Scheduling and Application Submission

The EF HPC Portal simplifies job management by integrating with leading HPC schedulers such as Slurm, HPC Gridware, PBS, and LSF. It provides users with:

• Application templates: Pre-configured templates for HPC applications eliminate manual setup, allowing users to submit jobs with minimal effort.

• Visual interface for Job Submission Interface Design: The “what you see is what you get” HPC Services design editor enables administrators to configure intuitive, easy to use HPC Application interfaces without requiring command-line expertise – in addition reducing errors in submitting applications. 

• Scheduler integration: EF HPC Portal supports the latest scheduler versions (e.g., Slurm 24-25, LSF 10.1), offering advanced features like job dependency management and resource reservation.

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2.2 Advanced Data Management

Efficient data handling is crucial for HPC environments where large datasets are common. EF HPC Portal provides:

• Data spoolers: Advanced spoolers ensure smooth data transfers and management between compute nodes and storage systems including immediate preview of HPC results also during runtime. This gives the engineer early and easy access to information about the performance of the job run.

• Integrated file manager: Features like SSH and S3 bucket integration, file preview, and drag-and-drop functionality simplify data management.

• Jupyter Notebook integration: Users can launch and manage notebooks directly from the portal, streamlining workflows for data analysis and machine learning tasks.
   

2.3. GPU and Resource Monitoring

Monitoring and optimizing GPU and overall resource utilization are critical for cost-effective HPC operations. EF HPC Portal offers:

• Integrated GPU monitoring: Real-time insights into GPU utilization allow administrators to identify resource bottlenecks and optimize performance.

• Job history analysis: Detailed job logs and resource usage data help in analyzing trends, identifying inefficiencies, and refining allocation strategies.

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2.4. Collaboration and Multi-User Support

EF HPC Portal is designed to foster collaboration across teams:

• Role-based access: Administrators can define user roles and access permissions for secure, multi-user environments.

• Shared applications and data: Teams can work on shared datasets and applications, improving collaboration and reducing duplication of effort.

• Integrated remote desktop access: Direct remote desktop access to pre- and post-processing of data for efficient and early analysis of HPC computation results allow for efficient engineering turn-around cycles.

3. Aligning EF HPC Portal with HPC Resource Optimization Strategies

3.1. Efficient Resource Utilization

EF HPC Portal ensures optimal use of compute and storage resources by:

• Dynamic resource allocation: Resources like CPU, GPU, and memory are allocated dynamically based on workload requirements, avoiding the waste associated with static allocations.

• Load balancing across nodes: By integrating with schedulers and giving control to administrators and users, EF HPC Portal ensures that jobs are distributed evenly across available compute nodes, preventing overloading or underutilization.

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3.2. Eliminating Waste in HPC Systems

EF HPC Portal helps organizations avoid common inefficiencies:

• Avoiding resource overcommitment: Unlike virtual machines, where resources are often pre-allocated and underutilized, EF HPC Portal ensures that resources are shared and dynamically managed across all users.

• No hypervisor costs: Running directly on physical hardware eliminates the overhead and licensing costs associated with hypervisors.

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3.3. Energy Efficiency

EF HPC Portal contributes to sustainable HPC operations by:

• Reducing idle resource usage: By monitoring resource utilization in real-time, administrators can automatically power down idle nodes or reallocate resources to active jobs including provisioning of resources on-demand for HPC workloads

• Efficient scheduling: EF HPC Portal allows users easy control of advanced scheduling algorithms to reduce runtime and energy consumption by optimizing job placement and execution.

4. Enhanced User Productivity

EF HPC Portal is built to make HPC systems accessible to a broader range of users, driving productivity and innovation:

• Browser-based access: Users can access HPC resources from any device through an HTML5-compatible web browser, eliminating the need for complex local setups.

• Seamless application launch: With pre-integrated support for applications like Ansys, Jupyter Notebooks, Star-CCM+, Matlab, … EF HPC Portal ensures that administrators and users spend less time setting up and more time solving problems.

5. Continuous Development and Support

EF HPC Portal is actively maintained and improved, ensuring compatibility with the latest technologies and customer requirements:

• Enhanced security: Regular updates include security patches, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and integration with identity providers like Entra ID.

• Customizable REST API: The powerful REST API allows organizations to automate workflows and build custom solutions and seamlessly integrate into their workflows.

• Backward compatibility: Existing users of NICE EnginFrame can migrate to EF HPC Portal without disruption, maintaining access to familiar workflows while gaining access to a host new features.