As we draw nearer to SC17, tensions are rising with each passing day. Sixteen teams of university undergrads are putting the final touches on their clusters and preparing for the grueling test that is the SC17 Student Cluster Competition.
Nothing comes easy in the student clustering game, and each team will have to be at the top of their game in order to have a chance for the SC17 Student Cluster Crown (although there’s not an actual crown.)
Millions of fans will be tracking the competition as the teams vie to turn in the best system performance on a suite of HPC benchmarks and applications – all while staying under the 3,000 watt power cap. For those of you who might not be familiar with how these competitions work, check out our overview here.
I recorded a webcast with Stephen Harrell, the chair of the cluster competition this year and an all-around Student Cluster Competition guru. In the video, we introduce the teams that will be competing this year and discuss their various approaches to the competition.
We’re going to be all over the competition this year, covering it through articles, videos, and perhaps even an interpretive dance or off-Broadway musical. Stay tuned for more.