Key Takeaways
- DAOS and Ceph are two object storage systems evaluated for high-performance computing (HPC) applications.
- DAOS outperformed Ceph and traditional Lustre file systems in scalability and flexibility.
- The study highlights the potential for greater adoption of object storage in HPC environments.
Quick Summary
High-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications are pushing the boundaries of data processing and storage. As these fields evolve, the demand for faster and more efficient data handling has become critical. Traditional POSIX distributed file systems, while common, face limitations when dealing with the enormous volumes of data generated by operational Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and other HPC tasks.
This research focuses on assessing the performance of two emerging object storage systems—DAOS and Ceph—specifically for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and broader HPC applications. The study introduced new software adapters that allow ECMWF’s NWP to utilize these advanced storage systems. Extensive benchmarking was conducted to compare the performance of these object stores against the existing Lustre file system on similar hardware.
The findings reveal that both DAOS and Ceph provide commendable performance for large-scale data processing. However, DAOS distinguished itself by offering superior scalability and flexibility, making it particularly well-suited for high-demand applications. This performance advantage suggests that DAOS could become a preferred choice for future HPC centers, although it does not necessarily mean a complete transition away from traditional POSIX I/O systems.
Moreover, the research discusses the challenges faced when migrating to object storage, including the need for new software solutions and potential integration issues. Despite these hurdles, the benefits of enhanced performance and scalability can significantly impact the efficiency of data-intensive applications.
In conclusion, as the landscape of data storage continues to evolve, the promising results from DAOS and Ceph could lead to increased adoption of object storage solutions in HPC environments. This shift may provide the necessary infrastructure to support the growing demands of AI and other advanced computational tasks.
Disclaimer: I am not the author of this great research! Please refer to the original publication here: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2602.17610v1