Family data sheet

HP Cluster
Platforms
Accelerate innovation and discovery with HP HPC solutions

August 2014

Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

Powerful choices for todays cluster computing

A well-designed, fully integrated, and high-performance computing (HPC) cluster solution
delivers powerful capabilities at an attractive price. However, achieving a state-of-the-art
cluster requires a tremendous amount of knowledge, time, and resources. With so many
choices available, how do you select the right cluster components to meet your business needs?
How do you ensure the modules work together as planned, especially with the latest advances
in technology such as GPUs, coprocessors, and new, faster interconnects?
The answer is simple: work with HP. As the leader in HPC and cluster solutions, HP provides a
comprehensive portfolio of industry-standard components and the experience required for
successful deployment. HP designed the HP Cluster Platforms to help you drive a competitive
edge, while balancing the pressure on your budget. This innovative, modular package
of hardware, software, and services is the perfect match for your scalable computation,
datamanagement, and visualization needs.
The modular HP Cluster Platform framework is built on flexible HP ProLiant DL and SL servers,
and the HP BladeSystem c-Class Infrastructure. In addition, HP Cluster Platforms also offer a
wide range of open source and commercial middleware, as well as the latest industry-standard
technologywith the simplicity and affordability of a pre-configured solution. HPhas extensive
experience assembling and installing thousands of cluster systems worldwide every year. You
can trust that the configured components will work together seamlessly.

Hardware engineered to deliver performance

HP Cluster Platforms provide a choice of servers, processors, operating systems, and
interconnectsas well as your choice of 1U, 2U, and 4U rack-mount servers or modular
HP BladeSystem c-Class nodes as the basic compute building blocks. With the ability to handle
massive scale-out requirements, the latest offerings are HPCluster Platforms built on the
HP SL Scalable Systems family of servers. HP SL Scalable Systems incorporate an efficient
multi-node chassis that lowers system costs and reduces power and cooling consumption.
Cluster Platform servers feature either the Intel Xeon E5-2600 v2 processor family with
up to 12 cores, or for the DL580, the Intel Xeon E7-4800/8800 v2 processor family with up
to 15 coresas well as support for next-generation DDR3 memory for better performance,
capacity, and efficiency.
HP Cluster PlatformRack-mount servers
HP Cluster Platforms are available with HPProLiant DL servers as compute nodes and one
or more control or utility nodes. You can easily add optional control nodes to enable greater
flexibility and expansion for administrative functions, such as file services or additional
login servers. Nodes feature multi-core processors from Intel and AMD to deliver superior
performance, improved power efficiency, and reduced facility requirements. The servers are
fine-tuned for rack-mounting and provide critical features for clustering, such as embedded
remote management and optional redundant power. HP Cluster Platforms support either
RedHat Enterprise Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) environments.
HP Cluster PlatformBladeSystem
HP Cluster Platforms are available with the HP BladeSystem c-Class infrastructurethe
most popular blade solution for high-performance computing. A significant number of the
TOP500 most powerful supercomputer sites are powered by HP BladeSystem-based HP Cluster
Platforms.1 Highly adaptive infrastructure in a box, HP BladeSystem provides outstanding
manageability, reliability, and density, as well as significantly reduced cabling. The innovative
c-Class cooling technology uses built-in instrumentation to monitor changes in workload
demand and environment.
HP BladeSystem-based clusters combine power-efficient computing and high density with
exceptional memory capacity and a large number of I/O slots. As with HP Cluster Platforms with
rack-mounted servers, both Intel Xeon and AMD Opteron multi-core processors are available
with HP BladeSystem, as well as a choice of either Red Hat or SUSE Linux environments.
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Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

HP Cluster PlatformScalable System servers

The HP Cluster Platforms can also be based on the newest family of HPProLiant serversthe
SL scalable series. For the SL6500 Scalable System, the core building block is the 4U s6500
chassis, providing a shared power and cooling infrastructure for up to eight nodes per chassis.
This intelligent design enables considerable capital and operational expenditures
(CAPEX and OPEX) cost savings, as well as more efficient cooling, which is not possible
in discrete standalone servers. The servers are packaged in trays, which slide into the
chassis. Thisminimized packaging reduces weight, heat retention, and cost. Up to eight
half-width 1USL230s servers can be packaged in the 4U s6500 chassis. With up to 10 chassis
per rack, an SL server-based HP Cluster Platform design can contain up to 80 nodes
with 160 CPUs per rack. The SL250s and SL270s Servers use the same chassis, but with 2U
and 4U half-width designs to support up to three or eight NVIDIA Tesla GPUs or Intel Xeon Phi
coprocessors, respectively. For the SL2500 Scalable System, a 2U shared-infrastructure chassis
supports either four 1U, half-width compute nodes or two 2U half-width nodes, with support for
accelerators and increased network connectivity options and storage expansion (up to 12 LFF
or 24 SFF hot-plug disks and up to 48 TB storage capacity per chassis).
All SL Scalable System platforms offer HP Advanced Power Manager. To improve power
efficiency and optimize server capacity utilization, this node- and rack-level power management
solution includes power monitoring and control capabilities, as well as dynamic power capping
at the node and rack level.

HP Cluster Platform specifications

HP Cluster Platform
BladeSystem
Processor2

HP Cluster Platform
Rack-mount servers

HP Cluster Platform
Scalable System servers

Intel Xeon E5-2600 v2 family or AMD Opteron 6300 family (Intel Xeon E7-4800/8800 v2 processor family for DL580 only)

GPUs and coprocessors

Intel Xeon Phi Coprocessors and

NVIDIA Tesla GPUs.

Intel Xeon Phi Coprocessors and

NVIDIA Tesla GPUs.
Up to 8 per node.

Nodes

HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8,

BL465cGen8

HP ProLiant DL380 Gen8,

DL160Gen8, DL580 Gen8,
DL385Gen8

HP ProLiant SL230s Gen8,

SL250sGen8, SL270s Gen8,
SL210tGen8, SL4540 Gen8

GPU card models

BL460c Gen8 with Blade Expansion

or WS460c Workstation Blade
available by request

NVIDIA K2000, K4000,

K5000,K6000
NVIDIA K1, K2, K40C

NVIDIA K2000, K4000, K5000,

K6000 on SL210t
NVIDIA K40, K20X, K20, K10, K2
onSL250s/SL270s

Coprocessor models

Number of processors (sockets)

pernode

Intel Xeon Phi 5110P, 7120P on

SL250/SL270
Two

Number of nodes

Two and Four

Two

Minimum: two nodes. Maximum: 4,000 nodes.

Memory per node

Up to 512 GB

Up to 3 TB

Up to 512 GB

Disk bays per node

Up to two SFF drives

(SAS, SATA, SSD)

Up to 25 SFF or 12 LFF drives

(SAS, SATA, SSD)

Up to 8 SFF or 4 LFF drives

(SAS, SATA, SSD)
SL454x: 60, 25, or 15 additional LFF
drives per node

 rocessor speed availability varies by node and reflects those offered on standalone servers. Visit hp.com for latest processor choices. (Note:New generations
P
and/or releases of servers are introduced regularly and will be offered as part of HP Cluster Platforms upon release.)
3

Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

HP Cluster Platform specifications (continued)

HP Cluster Platform
BladeSystem

HP Cluster Platform
Rack-mount servers

HP Cluster Platform
Scalable System servers

I/O slots per node

Two I/O expansion mezzanine slots

(x16 PCIe 3.0 on BL460c Gen8), plus
dual-port FlexibleLOM adapter.

Large number of PCI riser

options for maximum flexibility
and expandability. Varies per
servermodel.

SL210t, SL230s: two x16 PCIe 3.0

(FlexibleLOM and LP) SL250s: one
x16 PCIe 3.0 (FlexibleLOM), one x16
PCIe 3.0 (LP) and three internal x16
PCIe 3.0 (FL/FH), up to three GPUs or
coprocessors supported.
SL270s: one x8 PCIe 3.0
(FlexibleLOM), one x8 PCIe 3.0
(LP) and eight internal x16 PCIe
2.0 (FL/FH), up to eight GPUs or
coprocessors supported.
Two 1GbE ports embedded on each.

Cluster interconnect

Mellanox QDR or FDR InfiniBand,

single or dual-rail.
HCA: Mellanox ConnectX-3 2-port
10/40Gig E and FDR or Mellanox
Connect-IB 2-port x16 PCIe 3.0
1 or 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Mellanox QDR or FDR InfiniBand,

single or dual-rail.
HCA: Mellanox ConnectX-3 2-port
10/40Gig E and FDR or Mellanox
Connect-IB 2-port x16 PCIe 3.0
Intel QLogic QDR InfiniBand
1 or 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Mellanox QDR or FDR InfiniBand,

single or dual-rail.
HCA: Mellanox ConnectX-3 2-port
10/40Gig E and FDR or Mellanox
Connect-IB 2-port x16 PCIe 3.0
Intel QLogic QDR InfiniBand
1 or 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Management network

Gigabit Ethernet admin network, 10/100 console network to node-based embedded management interfaces

External storage in cab

MSA 2040 SAS and D2000 SAS Direct Attached

Operating system options

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, SLES 11

Operating environment options

Cluster management software options

Altair PBS Professional, Adaptive Moab HPC Suite

HP Insight Cluster Management Utility (Insight CMU); third-party and open source options available by request

Node form factor

Packaged in 10U c7000

bladeenclosure;
16 blades per enclosure,
one node per blade

Packaging

Multi-rack high-density packaging designed for footprint efficiency and cost enhancement. Lower density available when
power limitation per rack required. Network switches can be integrated on a top-of-rack basis (ToR) or centralized in a
rack. Cluster interconnect and management networks can independently follow one or the other model.

Services

HP Enhanced Services available for HP Cluster Platforms. HP offers onsite field installation and cluster startup.
HPSoftware support available for operating systems and HP software options.

Warranty

Standard hardware warranties; software warranty specific to product options

1U, 2U, and 4U server form factors

8 SL230s in 4U s6500 enclosure

4 SL250s in 4U s6500 enclosure
2 SL270s in 4U s6500 enclosure
4 SL210t 1U in 2U t2500 enclosure
2 SL210t 2U in 2U t2500 enclosure
1 node and 60 disk drives in 4.3U
SL454x enclosure
2 nodes and 2 x25 disk drives in 4.3U
SL454x enclosure
3 nodes and 3 x15 disk drives in 4.3U
SL454x enclosure

Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

Your choice of high-speed interconnects

HP offers InfiniBand, 10 Gigabit, and Gigabit Ethernet interconnects across the entire line
of HP Cluster Platforms. The combination of high bandwidth, low latency, and excellent
scalability has made InfiniBand the interconnect of choice for powering many of the worlds
largest and fastest computer systems. HP Cluster Platforms feature the complete line of
HP InfiniBand solutions, including the latest products from Mellanox and Intelincluding the
latest dual-port 56 Gb/s FDR InfiniBand adaptors. For capability clusters, where latency is
not mission-critical, 10 Gigabit or one Gigabit Ethernet provides the necessary interconnect
functionality at a very attractive price. The HP Networking family of switches can be deployed
as a single cluster switch or in a tiered hierarchy utilizing larger HP Networking switches.
Extensive software options
HP Cluster Platforms are designed to support standard cluster deployments using popular
open source Linux software stacks. HP complements this open source option with a set of
commercial products for Linux. HP Cluster Platform software offerings are tested and verified
by HP or our partners to run on the platformenabling rapid deployment and a comprehensive
environment for high-performance computing.
Operating environments available from HP include a choice of Red Hat Enterprise Linux or
Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Included with the operating system, HP Services Care
Packs provide fast access to HP service professionals and hands-on cluster expertise.
As part of the HP Cluster Platforms, you can choose from the following optional cluster
management software products:
HP Insight Cluster Management Utility (Insight CMU)An efficient, customizable, and robust
hyperscale cluster lifecycle management framework and suite of tools for managing operations
and performance of large clusters such as those found in HPC and large-scale data analysis
environments. A simple graphical interface enables an at-a-glance view of the entire cluster
across multiple metrics, provides frictionless scalable remote management and analysis, and
allows rapid provisioning of software to all nodes of the system. CMU makes the management
of a cluster more user friendly, efficient, and error-free than when managed by scripts or on a
node-by-node basis. Insight CMU offers full support for all HP ProLiant servers in a cluster, as
well as for HP Moonshot Systems. Insight CMU also includes options for monitoring accelerators
(GPUs and coprocessors) and for installing accelerator drivers and software.
Built to adhere to industry standards and integrate with the most popular servers in the
industry, HP Cluster Platforms can be deployed with alternate third-party and open source
management stacks and schedulers. With the support of partners such as Altair Engineering,
Adaptive Computing and Mellanox (UFM software), HP Cluster Platform nodes are qualified and
available to support popular third-party options.
HP Adaptive Workload Optimization Pack
Providing everything you need to quickly and easily complete your HPC cluster in one integrated
package, the Adaptive Workload Optimization Pack includes the capabilities to fine-tune
your workload performancecomprehensive workload scheduling and management,
industry-leading messaging passing interface, and seamless integration with HP Insight Cluster
Management Utility (CMU) for reduced administration and improved control. The combination
of an HP Cluster Platform and the Adaptive Workload Optimization Pack addresses the key
challenges that can limit your HPC potential today and tomorrow. The pack provides the
enterprise-ready HPC workload enhancement you need to excel and compete effectively.

Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

Altair PBS Professional

Offering full support for the latest HPC systemsincluding acceleratorsPBS Professional
can efficiently capture the physical relationships between accelerators and their closely coupled
CPUs. This capability ensures that when physical resources are assigned to jobs, the closest
accelerators and CPUs are chosen, which helps quicken execution time by reducing latency
between components. PBS Professional is fully integrated with HP Insight Cluster Management
Utility (Insight CMU)delivering a highly capable workload management solution to enforce
business, administrative, and service-level agreement rules, as well as provide scalable, robust,
and deterministic service.
Tested software development tools
To complete the software development portfolio, HP partners with leading suppliers of
software development tools. Through these alliances, HP tests and qualifies a comprehensive
portfolio of compilers, libraries, debuggers, and other HPC tools.

HP Cluster Platform features and benefits

Feature

Benefit

Market-changing innovation

Fully integrated, customer-ready solutions

Tested advanced options, such as
high-performance graphic servers and
accelerators, can be easily integrated into the
modular Cluster Platform system
Easily integrated with scalable file systems, such
as HP Storage systems or Lustre-based options

Enables cost-effective, rapid deployment

Boosts application performance with
cost-effective and energy efficient
accelerators; simplifies and improves
utilization of high-end graphics and
newtechnologies
Provides a complete and balanced scalable
solutionreceive computation and data
management in an integrated package

Standards-based economics

Broad choice of processors, interconnects, and

middleware
Servers based on multi-core Intel Xeon and AMD
Opteron processors
Clusters are built to uniform, worldwide
specifications

Provides a wide range of hardware and software

to meet specific needs
Outstanding price-performance; dramatic
performance increase in the same form factor
Eases and lowers costs of implementation
anduse

Time-proven confidence

Fully integrated with HP warranty and support

The software is tested and verified by HP and/or
HP partners to run on the HP Cluster Platforms
Optional onsite systems software support,
applications development and fine-tuning, and
clusters training

Provides industry-leading expertise for reduced

total cost of ownership (TCO)
Provides a comprehensive environment for
high-performance computing
Enhances the HP Cluster Platforms to achieve
the best possible results

Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

Massively scalable storage

Parallel, scalable storage is a primary requirement for HPC clusters. Lustre is a parallel
distributed file system that provides massive throughput and highly parallel access for
computer clusters ranging in size from small workgroup clusters to large-scale, multi-site
clusters. Lustre is the file system of choice for the majority of high-end sites in the
TOP500 supercomputers list because it is scalable and can support tens of thousands of client
systems, tens of petabytes of storage, and hundreds of gigabytes per second of aggregate I/O
throughput. These attributes make Lustre a popular choice for businesses with large HPC data
centers, financial institutions, and Oil and Gas companies. HP offers several third-party options
for the Lustre File System and other popular storage solutions from partners such as DataDirect
Networks (DDN) and Xyratex.
For customers requiring the unique and specialized characteristics of the Lustre File System
(storage enhanced for large-file high-bandwidth I/O, numerous writers to a single file, and
single-stream performance of sustained high-speed bandwidth) that is closely coupled to an
HPC Linux cluster solution, HP offers a packaged solution that incorporates DDN hardware.
Use computational and graphics accelerators to speed innovation
For some HPC workloads, accelerators such as GPUs and coprocessors offer a cost-effective
and energy-efficient option for improving performance. HP works with the leaders in
accelerator hardware and software developers to characterize and test these options.
For HP Cluster Platforms, the latest NVIDIA Tesla, GRID, Quadro GPUs, and Intel Xeon Phi
coprocessors are offered as integrated and supported options. Servers with integrated
computational accelerators can dramatically increase the performance of many parallel
workloads at lower cost, in less space, and using less power than CPU-only solutions.
Byincluding graphics-enabled servers in the portfolio, HP Cluster Platforms enable you to
centralize your high-end 3D resources, which simplifies management, enhances utilization
andsupports collaboration.
In addition, HP Remote Graphics Software enables multiple clients to access the same
visualization node, as well as enables low-cost clients to access high-end graphics rendered
onthe cluster.

Tuning and customization with HP services

You can enhance your HP Cluster Platform by choosing HP custom services. Over the years,
HP and its partners have implemented best practices associated with component choice,
integration, power requirements, and maintainability. Service options include onsite systems
software support, applications development and tuning, and clusters training. In addition, you
can choose support from the HP Consulting and Integration Services team.

Putting it all together

The HP Cluster Platforms provide integrated, customer-ready solutions with a wide range of
qualified options. Further assurance is provided with our Cluster Test Suite, used to validate
performance of server and network components as a complete cluster solution during
factory integration, and available to our customers and partners. This integral component of
HP Cluster Platforms insures that the flexible choices and the simple implementation yields
successful results.

Family data sheet | HP Cluster Platforms

HP Factory Express
Customize your IT lifecycle management, from
acquisition of new IT, management of existing
assets, and removal of unneeded equipment.
hp.com/go/hpfinancialservices

HP Factory Express provides customization and deployment services along with your
storageand server purchases. You can customize hardware to your exact specifications in the
factoryand perform qualification and acceptance testing before the systems ship to your
locationhelping speed deployment. hp.com/go/factoryexpress

HP services complete the solution

HP has a global team of award-winning HPC services experts available to help design, deploy,
manage, and support your HPC environment and processes. Services include consulting,
integration, outsourcing, and support.
A key HP support service for HPC environments is HP Datacenter Care. This service gives you
the flexibility and the economies of scale to effectively manage HP and non-HP hardware and
software environments. You benefit from a personalized onsite account team and a quality call
experience delivered globally and backed by HP Centers of Expertise. You also receive the right
mix of proactive and reactive services.
For more information, contact your HP or authorized partner sales representative or visit:
hp.com/services/suppport.

Customer technical training

Gain the skills you need with ExpertOne training and certification from HP. With HP ProLiant
training, you will accelerate your technology transition, improve operational performance, and
get an outstanding return on your HP investment. Our training is available when and where you
need it, through flexible delivery options and a global training capability. hp.com/learn/proliant

Learn more at
hp.com/go/HPC
hp.com/go/CMU
hp.com/go/scalable

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Copyright 20102012, 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The
only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein
should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
AMD is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Intel, Intel Xeon, and Intel Xeon Phi are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other
countries. NVIDIA and NVIDIA Tesla are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation. Red Hat is a registered trademark of RedHat,
Inc. in the United States and other countries. Linux is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries.
4AA1-5264ENW, August 2014, Rev. 8