The International HPC Certification Forum and AU-NZ - Lev Lafayette Senior HPC Support and Training Officer eResearchAustralasia, Melbourne, 2018 ...
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The International
HPC Certification
Forum and AU-NZ
Lev Lafayette
Senior HPC Support and Training Officer
eResearchAustralasia, Melbourne, 2018
1
The Problem at Hand
Datasets size and complexity is increasing faster than personal
computers are improving [1, 2] (e.g., SKA, vehicle automation etc);
expected 10x increase between 2013 and 2020.
High Performance Computing (HPC) is the most effective and efficient
means to process large and complex datasets with excellent RoI [3, 4].
Some nascent sociology that correlates research output with HPC
provision [5]
Therefore, availability and usage of HPC systems is a critical issue (i.e.,
an existential risk) for research organisations [6]. However, many
researchers come to need HPC systems but have minimal skills (if any)
in using such systems.
2
Current Approaches
There are very few courses in formal curriculum (e.g., one course UoM, used
to be a Grad Cert at UWA). What does exist is on the postgraduate level.
Training of researchers is therefore typically left to individual HPC sites (e.g.,
Pawsey, NCI, UniMelb, NeSI et al) as demand increases.
There is inconsistency in training approach and content, despite a high level of
homogeneity in HPC skills; individual sites differ but core concepts are similar.
Most HPC engineers do not have education experience or knowledge.
Andragogy vs pedagogy, disciplinary learning techniques, formative vs
summative assessment, etc.
Thus, existing training programmes are suboptimal in efficiency and
effectiveness; desire for better collaboration.
3
The International HPC Certification Forum
The International HPC Certification Forum ("the Forum") had its inaugural meeting at ISC in 2018. Developed
from the Performance Conscious HPC (PeCoH) project in 2017 with the Hamburg HPC Competence Center
(HHCC) as a virtual institution [7].
Developing skill tree with different
competency branches (HPC Knowledge,
Peformance Engineering,
HPC Environment etc), and
skill leaves [8].
Separates Content Delivery from
Certification; will offer examination, "endorsed training" material to build an ecosystem of participants.
4Skill Tree, Skill Branches, Skill Leaves
5Australian and New Zealand Contributions
Australia has been involved from the first AGM of the International Forum and now has with two topic chairs
on the governing Board (HPC Knowledge, Software Development). Lightning talk at subsequent follow-up
Zoom meeting held in 2018 following eResearch for interested parties.
Opportunity for local
development of resources, both
for teaching, and for
contributions to the
International Forum. Resource
can include; HPC content,
teaching delivery,
assessment methods.
Overall objective: increase regional research ouput.
6Future Steps
The International Forum needs to complete the skill tree, develop a summative certification exam, and
establish PGP key-signing for verification of certificates.
Content development for the Australia & New Zealand HPC Educators repository.
https://github.com/australia-new-zealand-hpc-educators
Australia & New Zealand HPC Educators
workshop and hackathon? Plan to have 20 or so
HPC educators from AU and NZ spend a day
discussing techniques, content, and assessment, and
a day smashing out content for the repositories.
7References
[1] Guo, Huadong, et al. "Scientific big data and digital earth." Chinese Science Bulletin 59.35 (2014): 5066-5073.
[2] Markov, Igor L. "Limits on fundamental limits to computation." Nature 512.7513 (2014): 147.
[3] Fox, Geoffrey, et al. "Big data, simulations and hpc convergence." Big Data Benchmarking. Springer, Cham, 2015. 3-17.
[4] Joseph, Earl., et al., Creating Economic Models Showing the Relationship Between Investments in HPC and the Resulting Financial
ROI and Innovation — and How It Can Impact a Nation's Competitiveness and Innovation, IDC Special Study, October 2013
[5] Apon, Amy., et al., High Performance Coputing Instrumentation and Research Productivity in U.S. Universities, Journal of
Information Technology Impact, Vol 10, No 2, pp87-98, 2010
[5] Lafayette, Lev. "Critical Issues in the Teaching of High Performance Computing to Postgraduate Scientists.", Proceedings of the
International Conference on Computational Science, 2014
[6] Himstedt, Kai., et al., An HPC Certification Program Proposal Meeting HPC Users' Varied Backgrounds, 2018
[7] Kunkel, Julian., et al,, Towards an HPC Certification Program, Journal of Computer Science Education, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2019, p88-
89
8Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ann Backhaus (Pawsey Supercompter Centre), Roger Edberg (National Computional Infrastructure), and
Waseem Kamleh (University of Adelaide) for their assistance and advice in reviewing this presentation.
Thanks to the University of Melbourne for providing time and financial support for the project.
The International HPC Certification Forum and PeCoH were supported bythe German Research Foundation (DFG).
9The International
HPC Certification
Forum and AU-NZ
Lev Lafayette
Senior HPC Support and Training Officer
eResearchAustralasia, Melbourne, 2018
1The Problem at Hand
Datasets size and complexity is increasing faster than personal
computers are improving [1, 2] (e.g., SKA, vehicle automation etc);
expected 10x increase between 2013 and 2020.
High Performance Computing (HPC) is the most effective and efficient
means to process large and complex datasets with excellent RoI [3, 4].
Some nascent sociology that correlates research output with HPC
provision [5]
Therefore, availability and usage of HPC systems is a critical issue (i.e.,
an existential risk) for research organisations [6]. However, many
researchers come to need HPC systems but have minimal skills (if any)
in using such systems.
2Current Approaches
There are very few courses in formal curriculum (e.g., one course UoM, used
to be a Grad Cert at UWA). What does exist is on the postgraduate level.
Training of researchers is therefore typically left to individual HPC sites (e.g.,
Pawsey, NCI, UniMelb, NeSI et al) as demand increases.
There is inconsistency in training approach and content, despite a high level of
homogeneity in HPC skills; individual sites differ but core concepts are similar.
Most HPC engineers do not have education experience or knowledge.
Andragogy vs pedagogy, disciplinary learning techniques, formative vs
summative assessment, etc.
Thus, existing training programmes are suboptimal in efficiency and
effectiveness; desire for better collaboration.
3The International HPC Certification Forum
The International HPC Certification Forum ("the Forum") had its inaugural meeting at ISC in 2018. Developed
from the Performance Conscious HPC (PeCoH) project in 2017 with the Hamburg HPC Competence Center
(HHCC) as a virtual institution [7].
Developing skill tree with different
competency branches (HPC Knowledge,
Peformance Engineering,
HPC Environment etc), and
skill leaves [8].
Separates Content Delivery from
Certification; will offer examination, "endorsed training" material to build an ecosystem of participants.
4Skill Tree, Skill Branches, Skill Leaves
5Australian and New Zealand Contributions
Australia has been involved from the first AGM of the International Forum and now has with two topic chairs
on the governing Board (HPC Knowledge, Software Development). Lightning talk at subsequent follow-up
Zoom meeting held in 2018 following eResearch for interested parties.
Opportunity for local
development of resources, both
for teaching, and for
contributions to the
International Forum. Resource
can include; HPC content,
teaching delivery,
assessment methods.
Overall objective: increase regional research ouput.
6Future Steps
The International Forum needs to complete the skill tree, develop a summative certification exam, and
establish PGP key-signing for verification of certificates.
Content development for the Australia & New Zealand HPC Educators repository.
https://github.com/australia-new-zealand-hpc-educators
Australia & New Zealand HPC Educators
workshop and hackathon? Plan to have 20 or so
HPC educators from AU and NZ spend a day
discussing techniques, content, and assessment, and
a day smashing out content for the repositories.
7References
[1] Guo, Huadong, et al. "Scientific big data and digital earth." Chinese Science Bulletin 59.35 (2014): 5066-5073.
[2] Markov, Igor L. "Limits on fundamental limits to computation." Nature 512.7513 (2014): 147.
[3] Fox, Geoffrey, et al. "Big data, simulations and hpc convergence." Big Data Benchmarking. Springer, Cham, 2015. 3-17.
[4] Joseph, Earl., et al., Creating Economic Models Showing the Relationship Between Investments in HPC and the Resulting Financial
ROI and Innovation — and How It Can Impact a Nation's Competitiveness and Innovation, IDC Special Study, October 2013
[5] Apon, Amy., et al., High Performance Coputing Instrumentation and Research Productivity in U.S. Universities, Journal of
Information Technology Impact, Vol 10, No 2, pp87-98, 2010
[5] Lafayette, Lev. "Critical Issues in the Teaching of High Performance Computing to Postgraduate Scientists.", Proceedings of the
International Conference on Computational Science, 2014
[6] Himstedt, Kai., et al., An HPC Certification Program Proposal Meeting HPC Users' Varied Backgrounds, 2018
[7] Kunkel, Julian., et al,, Towards an HPC Certification Program, Journal of Computer Science Education, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2019, p88-
89
8Acknowledgements
Thanks to Ann Backhaus (Pawsey Supercompter Centre), Roger Edberg (National Computional Infrastructure), and
Waseem Kamleh (University of Adelaide) for their assistance and advice in reviewing this presentation.
Thanks to the University of Melbourne for providing time and financial support for the project.
The International HPC Certification Forum and PeCoH were supported bythe German Research Foundation (DFG).
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