Exa PowerFLOW powered by IBM Deep Computing Capacity on Demand

Highlights

• Obtain engineering analysis results in hours by leveraging the parallel scalability of Exa software combined with IBM processing power
• Respond to Market Demands with virtual server with superior capacity at in-house costs
• Perform compute-intensive analyses that were once financially or technically prohibitive 
• Reduce long-term, fixed-cost commitments while satisfying peak workloads
• Compete on a larger scale with virtual compute capacity on tap
• Focus on the core business of vehicle engineering, not IT issues and administration

As a ground transportation manufacturer or supplier, you know the road from engineering design to production can be a lengthy one. In a race where those who make it to launch time first, win—how you get there can determine your vehicle’s long-term success in the marketplace.

Customer demands require increasing numbers of product variants offset by a shorter time to market. No longer limited to vehicle performance, the marketplace expects innovation. Vehicle quality attributes comprise a long list with wind noise, fuel-economy, passenger comfort and handling only scratching the surface. 

Exa PowerFLOW On Demand powered by IBM

Exa® PowerFLOW® Digital Wind Tunnel On Demand powered by IBM Deep Computing Capacity on Demand ratchets the high performance aspect up a notch by providing manufacturers with the engineering benefits of PowerFLOW’s simulation software that offers a complete digital test facility for aerodynamic, thermal and acoustics testing —and on demand HPC without the financial, technical and management responsibilities of owning a supercomputer and associated software. With the PowerFLOW powered by Deep Computing Capacity on Demand integrated solution, you can solve the HPC deployment dilemma of supporting full vehicle programs.

With Exa PowerFLOW On Demand powered by IBM Deep Computing Capacity, manufacturers can accommodate large-scale peak workloads on short notice with unprecedented access to simulation speed and capacity. The capabilities of the powerful solution let you:

• Rapidly and temporarily flex HPC capacity up and down proportional to your business demands on a pay-for-use basis for faster deployment and time to value
• Access supercomputing power hosted by IBM via an encrypted VPN connection for highly secure remote use
• Offload compute-intensive workloads requiring 10s, 100s or 1000s of CPUs, letting you respond to peak workloads and new project launches
• Implement an optimal combination of in-house and on demand HPC infrastructure, allowing you to take advantage of predictable variable costs and reduced business risk

Exa PowerFLOW Digital Wind Tunnel

Based on Exa DIGITAL PHYSICS® technology, Exa PowerFLOW provides a powerful Digital Wind Tunnel solution, making new capabilities in design engineering a reality. A proven and reliable technology, Exa PowerFLOW Digital Wind Tunnel™ offers aerodynamic, thermal and aeroacoustic engineering design testing and analysis capabilities previously out of reach. Engineers can view earlier design cycle insights while simulating, analyzing and validating wind tunnel or open-road track tests as they collaborate with multi-disciplined members of the design team.

Exa PowerFLOW On Demand powered by IBM Deep Computing Capacity delivers business and IT value across your organization while helping meet product development needs.

• Reduce business, financial and technical risks that result from capacity planning based on uncertain and unpredictable computing cycles with on demand access to compute capacity
• Enable new business opportunities and manage business cycle fluctuations with access to virtual unlimited scalability
• Adapt quickly to changing business requirements without permanently upgrading your infrastructure or data center
• Make better business decisions based on more accurate and timely information with the ability to quickly conduct multiple design iterations
• Meet business demands without locking your IT department into insufficient compute resources and long-term fixed costs

Reducing HPC risk with scalability, variability and flexibility An on demand HPC environment requires an infrastructure of high-speed processors and storage that can provide measurable compute and data storage capacity in a flexible, scalable and highly secure manner. Instead of purchasing computing infrastructure to meet peak demands, with the Exa PowerFLOW On Demand solution, you can offload some or all computation to a remote facility owned and hosted by IBM. Exa PowerFLOW On Demand possesses the following attributes:

Scalable capacity. With Exa’s suite of products, customers may accurately evaluate and iterate designs in ways not possible before. Exa products allow users to quickly modify CAD geometry, mesh and queue multiple simulations to the server in minutes. With access to thousands of CPUs at a customer’s disposal, results may be returned for analysis in a dramatically reduced timeframe, letting you generate and test additional designs quickly. With the Exa and IBM partnership, you can now overcome the deployment delays that often made CAE/CFD engineering cumbersome and expensive in the past.

Exa PowerFLOW runs on IBM eServer® Cluster 1350 technology, a Linux®-based cluster that provides a robust, highly scalable compute facility hosted and managed by IBM. The Linux cluster-based compute engine solution is front-ended by an IBM eServer pSeries® pre-/post- processing server. With virtual, unlimited amounts of compute capacity available when needed, you can solve larger, more complex problems and perform more analysis iterations in less time, getting you to market faster.

Variability. Exa PowerFLOW On Demand enables more predictable return on investment by leveraging a pay-for-use model. Pay only for what you use and return additional resources when you are done. Since charges are on a CPU-hour basis, the cost to use capacity is the same, whether you run ten simulations in one day or ten simulations in ten days. Say “yes” to any request/ projects now that you can achieve a more appropriate mix of fixed and variable costs and improve affordability.

Flexibility. Improve time-to-productivity and return on investment with the integrated solution. You can speed deployment time for incremental HPC capacity and delay or even avoid a costly data center upgrade. Confidently handle peaks in workload, permitting flexible responses to changing engineering and business requirements.

Highly secure and isolated operating environment Exa has dedicated IBM Deep Computing Capacity on Demand server and storage capacity available for Exa PowerFLOW On Demand clients. In addition, Exa PowerFLOW On Demand capacity can be expanded dynamically, as needed. A highly secure and isolated cluster partition is provisioned for each Exa PowerFLOW On Demand client for the project duration. Each client’s operating environment and data is isolated from all other users with clients retaining full control of their cluster partition.

Risk mitigation Combining the scalability, variability and flexibility of Exa PowerFLOW On Demand powered by IBM Deep Computing Capacity on Demand enables you to avoid the financial and IT management responsibilities of owning a supercomputer while reducing technology obsolescence exposure. Align IT costs with consumption while avoiding up-front capital acquisition and locking in to long-term, fixed IT costs. 

Industry leaders working together

Ground transportation manufacturers can deploy Exa PowerFLOW On Demand solutions with confidence. Exa is an industry leader in CAE/CFD design simulation and analysis software. IBM is the recognized leader in delivering supercomputing innovation and solutions (see footnote) with unmatched capability to provide a scalable, highly secure and resilient on demand operating environment. With a history of leadership capability and experience in hosting clients’ business-critical workloads, IBM also has extensive experience with PowerFLOW, participating with Exa in numerous client engagements worldwide.