Teaching Parallel Computing with Container Virtualization
Author/Presenters
Event Type
Workshop
Education
TimeMonday, November 13th10:50am -
11:10am
Location505
DescriptionIncorporating modules that equip students with parallel
programming and high performance computing skills into
core computing and engineering courses poses unique
technical challenges. A typical PC laboratory
environment may not be suitable, and allowing learners
access to a production resource may introduce an
unacceptable risk, if it is even possible. For decades,
Beowulf clusters have offered an attractive solution
where a system can be built using commodity components,
often by the students themselves. This can instil in the
learner both an understanding of parallel code and how
it is orchestrated on the hardware - a strategy used
successfully in delivering courses at the University of
Huddersfield. However, there are two problems; Firstly,
the depth of knowledge required to be learnt in order to
successfully build, program and profile a cluster.
Secondly, the use of seemingly antiquated tools in order
to achieve this. In this paper, we outline some of the
experience of integrating parallel and distributed
computing into our courses. In addition, we present a
novel, cross-platform virtual cluster toolkit developed
to address the technical requirements of delivering such
courses.
Author/Presenters
