MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 12, 2019 — Nor-Tech, experts on complete Open Source HPC technology solutions, just announced the first two enterprise deployments of Open OnDemand, which enables even those without HPC expertise to take advantage of the significant cost-savings of open source. Nor-Tech is currently the only company able to integrate Open OnDemand into OpenHPC.

The traditional downside of open source platforms has been lack of support. Nor-Tech’s engineers, who have decades of open source expertise, provide that support. This means all of Nor-Tech’s clients can use low cost/no cost open source cluster management tools like Open HPC, PBS Pro and CentOS to dramatically cut their software licensing costs.

  • The Open OnDemand server is basically a virtual machine running on the cluster head node so no extra server hardware is needed–keeping the added cost very low.
  • There is zero install. Open OnDemand is a single point of entry into the cluster; all users need is a simple browser and a single sign-on–user name, password and URL.
  • Users can easily upload and download files to and from the cluster right through the browser with no special FTP or PUTTY needed.
  • If users want to use command lines, they can from within the browser session.
  • Resource schedulers like PBS Pro and Slurm, are all supported

Nor-Tech’s two initial deployments include a major U.S. research institute and a Fortune 500 building materials manufacturer that have been working with Nor-Tech for many years.

Nor-Tech Executive Vice President Jeff Olson said, “In both cases these clients have come to rely on Nor-Tech’s experienced HPC engineering team for innovative solutions that meet specific needs. This is one more reason that Nor-Tech enjoys a reputation for leading-edge solutions that make sense.”

Open OnDemand was developed at The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC), with input from an advisory board that includes Nor-Tech’s VP of Engineering Dom Daninger. The project has been so successful that OSC was recently granted a five-year NSF funding extension.

A free trial of Open OnDemand is currently available on Nor-Tech’s Demo Cluster. For more information, including details on how Open OnDemand works, visit: https://www.nor-tech.com/leading-edge/open_ondemand/.

About Nor-Tech

Nor-Tech is on CRN’s list of the top 40 Data Center Infrastructure Providers along with IBM, Oracle, Dell, and Supermicro and is also a member of Hyperion Research’s prestigious HPC Technical Computing Advisory Panel. The company is a high performance computer builder for 2015 and 2017 Nobel Physics Award-contending/winning projects. Nor-Tech engineers average 20+ years of experience. This strong industry reputation and deep partner relationships also enable the company to be a leading supplier of cost-effective Lenovo desktops, laptops, tablets and Chromebooks to schools and enterprises. All of Nor-Tech’s high performance technology is developed by Nor-Tech in Minnesota and supported by Nor-Tech around the world. The company is headquartered in Burnsville, Minn. just outside of Minneapolis. Nor-Tech holds the following contracts: Minnesota State IT, GSA, University of Wisconsin System, and NASA SEWP V. To contact Nor-Tech call 952-808-1000/toll free: 877-808-1010 or visit https://www.nor-tech.com.

Source: Nor-Tech