A new press release from Nvidia discusses the use of QuadroPlex GPU Virtualization by Santos, an Australia-based oil and gas company, to bring high-powered GPU capabilities to thin-client workstations.
Santos uses IBM x3650 M3 server utilizing NVIDIA Quadro Plex scalable visualization systems. All 12 servers located at their various offices are powerful enough to serve more than 600 users at a time to provide a high-performance, 3D Linux production environment, which their users can access from any Santos’ office using a standard Windows notebook PC with no 3D capabilities. Rather than have a high-end workstation deal with the 3D rendering and calculations, each server maximizes performance by loadbalancing the four GPUs contained in each NVIDIA Quadro Plex connected to each server to handle hundreds of 3D render requests from multiple users at a single time.
Many people would call this “private clouds”, but it’s actually just classic-old school virtualization technology. Beefing it up by some new kit from NVidia, I’m impressed to hear they can services 600 users simultaneously.
Get all the details after the break.
Innovations in GPU Virtualization Means Tremendous Cost Savings for Australia-based Santos, Ltd.
The need for petroleum and natural gas is relentless, and demand worldwide continues to rise. Contrast that with known deposits of petroleum and natural gas continuously decreasing, and the reality is that it’s becoming increasingly difficult and costly to locate these energy sources. Through realistic 3D rendering technology, geoscientists are able to study the natural formations of the earth and find the most likely areas where natural gas pockets and petroleum deposits may be located.
Traditionally, this requires massive IT investment costs due to the high performance computing and 3D rendering requirements of the professional workstations used by these geoscientists. The total cost of ownership (TCO) for each workstation has historically been high due in part to the expensive, high-end 3D hardware used in each of these workstations. This set-up has also tended to be highly ineffective, as each workstation deals with a high volume of data for both 3D rendering, as well as the actual scientific calculations. Additionally, sending all of this data over a network creates a data bottleneck from the server room to the desktop, making it both inefficient as well as slowing down the overall network.
Through innovative, new open-source thin client software and utilization of NVIDIA Quadro Plex scalable visualization technology, Australia-based Santos, Ltd. overcame these limitations to provide real-time 3D rendering, while enabling their geoscientists to utilize standard-issue notebook computers. Showcasing their expertise, Santos, Ltd. developed an open-source thin client – using VirtualGL and TurboVNC – to provide real-time 3D rendering using data direct from the field for the geoscientists who are stationed across Australia and elsewhere in South-East Asia. Through this thin-client solution, Santos’ geoscientists, users and clients began to move away from high-end workstations entirely, as the software is efficient enough to allow high-end 3D rendering even on their lower-end notebook computers.
Santos, Ltd. comments, “The result is a completely portable, high performance 3D Linux environment that our users can access from any Santos office using a standard Windows laptop with no 3D capabilities.”
Making it Happen
Santos uses IBM x3650 M3 server utilizing NVIDIA Quadro Plex scalable visualization systems. All 12 servers located at their various offices are powerful enough to serve more than 600 users at a time to provide a high-performance, 3D Linux production environment, which their users can access from any Santos’ office using a standard Windows notebook PC with no 3D capabilities. Rather than have a high-end workstation deal with the 3D rendering and calculations, each server maximizes performance by loadbalancing the four GPUs contained in each NVIDIA Quadro Plex connected to each server to handle hundreds of 3D render requests from multiple users at a single time. Running Paradigm thin client software, the efficient rendering and processing power provided by the NVIDIA Quadro Plex-powered servers enable faster 3D render for these requests. The resulting data is then compressed and delivered to users via the Paradigm software using TurboVNC, making it faster, more reliable and more effective.
Santos Ltd. adds, “Since the new solution has been in place, our users have been voluntarily returning their Linux workstations as it has become clear that the Quadro Plex solution (TurboVNC/VirtualGL) is outperforming their traditional high-end 64- bit workstations.”
Scalability and Cost
Santos’ change to an NVIDIA Quadro Plex-based thin client solution is also scalable, as the IBM servers handle loadbalancing automatically between user sessions. As more users move to TurboVNC, all Santos, Ltd. needs to do is purchase additional servers and Quadro Plex units to handle the increased load. The benefits are immense in terms of cost, as each server can handle up to 50 thin client users comfortably at a time. Rather than acquire 50 very expensive 3D-enabled workstations that end up slowing a company’s network, the combination of Quadro Plex and TurboVNC enables better performance, especially for operations with multiple locations.
The switch to less expensive notebook PCs without the need for additional, expensive 3D-capable hardware, has also reduced IT costs greatly for Santos, as each of their thin client users can now use much less expensive hardware, plus Santos employees are definitely pleased with the user experience the new solution provides.
The implementation by Santos, Ltd. has just won a Red Hat Global Innovation Award, being presented to them in May 2011. Rather than rest on their laurels, though, Santos, Ltd. will also use TurboVNC to furher expand access to all of their Linux Geoscience applications being used at all of their offices throughout Asia Pacific. Work is also underway to deliver a 64-bit Windows 7 version using NVIDIA Quadro Plex, with expected implementation of this upgraded solution to begin by the end of 2011.
