What is a Compute
Platform?
A compute platform is a data environment where
software implementation occurs. The platform can
consist of either the operating system (OS)
framework or physical hardware architecture of the
computer where the software execution occurs.
What are the different types of
compute platforms?
There is a wide array of both modern and legacy compute
platforms that are utilized in today’s world of compute. From
hardware platforms to cloud platforms to platforms as a
service, there are truly compute platforms for any
environment and every application.
• Hardware platforms work within a data architecture that
consists of an array of compatible hardware components,
and can often be found within legacy compute systems.
They typically have the ability to trace compatibility back
through the lifetime of the company’s data architecture.
• Cloud platforms are utilized for creating and deploying
applications in a cloud environment, whether it be
software or services.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) consist of a complete
package for development and deployment of cloud-based
services. Providing the complete architecture required by
organizations to host their applications and run their
software, Platforms as a Service are rapidly gaining
momentum as a compute environment offering.
• Client/server platforms provide compute infrastructure
and capacity on physical web servers. Being available
onsite means organizations have immediate access to the
hardware in case of any need for access or security
purposes.
How do compute platforms work?
A compute platform’s key purpose is to provide an
architecture required for software and application deployment
and management. The system requires both hardware (i.e.,
device) and an OS for the program or application to run on. In
order for a program or application to run, it needs a platform
to host it—this is where a compute platform comes in.
Compute platforms work through several components. Each
component is required in different environments, in order to
accomplish the task at hand. Some examples of platform
components needed in varying environments include:
· Hardware is a critical part of the compute process, and is
accessible only through embedded systems. This compute
process is often described as “running bare metal.”
· A browser acts as an essential element to run web-based
software, and hosts software specifically within the browser
itself. This does not include the process of a browser being
run on an OS.
· A framework provides the actual infrastructure required for
compute to occur. Some frameworks come ready-made–
while they include several restrictions, they are still a good
element to include in compute environments that involve very
specific requirements.
· A virtualized compute platform includes hardware, an OS,
software, and storage that allow for a specific program to run
outside of its normal bounds. For instance, a virtualized
version would provide the structure for a Mac-native
application to run on a Windows PC.
What is the importance of compute
platforms in modern IT
infrastructure?
Compute platforms play a crucial role in modern IT
infrastructure. They are the foundation upon which
organizations build and run their digital services, applications,
and data processing systems. Here are a few reasons
why compute platforms are important:
• Performance and scalability: Compute platforms provide
the processing power and resources required to efficiently
execute complex activities, allowing enterprises to expand
operations and achieve high-performance computing.
• Flexibility and Agility: Cloud-based compute platforms
provide on-demand resource allocation, enabling quick
application deployment, easy scalability, and the ability to
adapt to changing business needs.
• Cost Optimization: Compute platforms offer cost-saving
benefits by eliminating upfront hardware investments and
providing flexible pricing models, such as pay-as-you-go,
leading to overall cost reduction.
• Accessibility and Collaboration: Cloud-based compute
platforms enable remote access and collaboration among
geographically dispersed teams, promoting efficient
workflows and real-time project collaboration.
• Reliability and Disaster Recovery: Compute platforms
incorporate features like redundancy and disaster
recovery mechanisms, ensuring data and critical systems
are protected, minimizing downtime and ensuring
business continuity.
• Innovation and Experimentation: Compute platforms
provide tools, frameworks, and services that inspire
creativity and enable the rapid development and launch of
new applications and services.
In short, compute platforms are vital in modern IT
infrastructure as they enable organizations to meet the
demands of a digital and interconnected world.
What are Traditional Compute
Platforms?
Traditional compute platforms refer to on-
premises infrastructure that organizations deploy and
manage within their own physical data centers. Here are two
examples of traditional compute platforms:
• Bare-Metal Servers: Bare-metal servers offer direct
access to hardware resources, delivering high
performance and allowing maximum control, security, and
customization for specific workloads.
• Virtualization Technologies: Hypervisors enable multiple
operating systems and applications to run concurrently on
a single server, optimizing resource usage and providing
flexibility through hardware abstraction.
In traditional compute platforms, organizations have full
control over their infrastructure but face challenges of high
costs and maintenance. Transitioning to cloud-based
solutions offers scalability, cost-efficiency, and managed
services, prompting organizations to embrace cloud
computing for improved agility and reduced expenses.
What is Cloud Compute
Platforms?
Cloud compute platforms refer to the infrastructure and
services provided by cloud service providers to enable
organizations to run their applications and processes in a
cloud-based environment. Here's an overview of three types
of cloud compute platforms:
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Virtual Machines: IaaS platforms enable organizations to
create and manage virtual machines, giving them control over
the operating system and software stack.
- Storage: Scalable storage solutions are provided by IaaS
platforms, allowing efficient data storage and retrieval.
- Networking: IaaS offers virtual networks, load balancers,
and firewalls to establish secure connections and manage
network traffic.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Application Deployment: PaaS platforms simplify
application deployment with pre-configured environments and
automated processes.
- Development Tools and Frameworks: PaaS provides a
variety of programming languages, libraries, and tools for
application development.
- Scalability and Load Balancing: PaaS handles automatic
scaling and load balancing of applications to accommodate
increased traffic and workloads.
- Benefits: PaaS offers faster development cycles,
simplified deployment, automatic scalability, and reduced
infrastructure management.
• Function-as-a-Service (FaaS)
- Event-driven Architecture: Functions in serverless
platforms are triggered by events, like HTTP requests or
database updates.
- Auto-scaling: Serverless platforms automatically scale
functions based on demand, optimizing resource usage.
- Pay-per-Use Pricing: Organizations are billed only for the
actual execution time and resources consumed by their
functions.
- Benefits: Serverless platforms reduce operational
complexity, optimize costs, provide automatic scalability, and
enable rapid development and deployment.
- Considerations: Potential cold-start delays and limitations
on function execution time and resource usage should be
considered.
Cloud compute platforms provide organizations with the
flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency required to build,
deploy, and scale applications in the cloud.
What Container Compute
Platforms?
Container compute platforms revolve around containerization
technologies and container orchestration platforms. Let's
explore them in more detail:
• Containerization Technologies (e.g., Docker):
- Isolation: Containers offer process-level isolation,
enabling applications to run independently without
interference.
- Portability: Containers can be deployed on any system
supporting the containerization technology, ensuring
consistent behavior.
- Resource Efficiency: Containers are lightweight, share
the host system's kernel, and optimize resource utilization for
efficient performance.
• Container Orchestration Platforms:
- Kubernetes: An open-source platform automating
container deployment, scaling, and management, offering
features like service discovery, load balancing, rolling
updates, and self-healing capabilities.
- Docker Swarm: A container orchestration platform
bundled with Docker, simplifying the deployment and
management of containerized applications across multiple
nodes with clustering, service discovery, scaling, and rolling
updates capabilities.
- Other container orchestration solutions, offer similar
functionality with additional cloud-specific features and
integrations.
Container compute platforms enable organizations to build
and deploy applications in a consistent and scalable manner,
leveraging the advantages of containerization and
orchestration technologies.
What are Quantum Compute
Platforms?
• Overview of Quantum Computing:
Quantum computing utilizes qubits, which can exist in
multiple states simultaneously, to perform complex
calculations more efficiently than classical computers, offering
the potential to solve computationally challenging problems.
• Challenges in Quantum Computing:
Quantum computing is still in its early stages of development,
and there are several challenges to overcome:
- Qubit Stability: Maintaining qubit stability and reducing
errors is challenging due to noise and environmental
disturbances.
- Scalability: Scaling quantum systems to a level where
they can outperform classical computers for practical
applications remains a significant challenge.
- Error Correction: Developing effective error correction
codes and fault-tolerant systems is crucial for preserving the
accuracy of quantum computations.
- Limited Applications: Identifying and developing practical
applications beyond cryptography, optimization, and quantum
simulation is a continuing challenge.
What are Hybrid Compute
Platforms?
• Hybrid Cloud Computing:
Hybrid cloud computing integrates on-premises infrastructure
with public/private clouds, combining scalability and flexibility
with data control. Workloads are distributed between on-
premises and cloud, offering a hybrid compute platform.
• Integration of On-Premises and Cloud Platforms:
Hybrid compute platforms involve the integration of on-
premises infrastructure and cloud platforms to create a
cohesive computing environment. This integration can take
different forms, such as:
- Data Integration: Seamlessly integrate data between on-
premises systems and the cloud, securely transferring and
synchronizing data.
- Application Deployment: Deploy applications across on-
premises infrastructure and the cloud, hosting them on-
premises while utilizing cloud components for scalability and
accessibility.
- Resource Bursting: Utilize additional cloud resources
during peak demand, dynamically scaling infrastructure and
relying on on-premises infrastructure for normal operations.
• Management and Orchestration of Hybrid Compute
Environments:
Managing and orchestrating hybrid compute environments
require effective tools and strategies. Key aspects include:
- Cloud Management Platforms (CMP): Centrally manage
and control on-premises and cloud resources, provisioning,
monitoring, and managing them through a single interface.
- Connectivity and Networking: Ensure reliable and secure
network connectivity between on-premises infrastructure and
cloud providers using technologies like VPNs, dedicated
connections, and SDN.
- Orchestration and Automation: Manage containerized
workloads across hybrid environments with orchestration
tools like Kubernetes and automate application deployment
and scaling.
- Security and Compliance: Address security and
compliance requirements for both on-premises and cloud
components, including access controls, data encryption,
identity management, and compliance frameworks.
Effective management and orchestration of hybrid compute
environments ensure seamless integration, resource
optimization, security, and regulatory compliance across both
on-premises and cloud infrastructure, enabling organizations
to leverage the best of both worlds.
List some Compute Platform
Selection Considerations
Here are three key factors to consider when selecting a
compute platform:
• Performance and Scalability Requirements:
Evaluate your performance and scalability needs to ensure
the compute platform can meet your workload demands.
Consider factors such as:
- Processing Power: Make sure the platform's CPU, RAM,
and storage options satisfy your performance requirements
by evaluating these alternatives.
- Scalability: Consider the platform's capacity to expand in
response to changes in workload, including auto-scaling
features and the ability to manage heightened traffic or
workload needs.
- Network Performance: To guarantee effective
communication speed, evaluate the platform's network
connectivity, bandwidth, and latency.
• Cost and Pricing Models:
Understand the cost structure and pricing models associated
with the compute platform. Consider the following:
- Pricing Models: Assess if the platform provides pricing
models suitable for your usage, such as pay-as-you-go or
subscription-based plans.
- Cost Optimization: Consider the long-term TCO, including
upfront costs, operational expenses, and potential savings
through scalability or resource optimization.
- Cost Transparency: Ensure clear visibility into compute
resource, storage, data transfer, and additional service costs
to maintain transparency in pricing structure.
• Security and Compliance Considerations:
Ensure that the compute platform meets your security and
compliance requirements. Consider the following:
- Data Security: Assess the platform's encryption, access
controls, and compliance with security standards to ensure
data protection.
- Compliance Requirements: Determine if the platform
meets industry-specific regulations and data handling
requirements.
- Audit and Monitoring: Evaluate the platform's logging and
monitoring features for detecting and responding to security
incidents or compliance breaches.
HPE and compute platforms
HPE compute systems power innovation by uniquely and
reliably delivering the correct platform to the right location, for
the specific workload requirements. If your enterprise has a
need for speed and agility within a diverse data
environment, HPE GreenLake has what you need. With the
ability to simultaneously free up IT resources while
accelerating time to value, HPE GreenLake provides
reliability where you need it most.
Protect your organization with a holistic 360-degree approach
to security with the HPE ProLiant Security. Addressing both
current and future threats, HPE ProLiant Security offers
incredible protection with the world’s most secure industry-
standard server portfolio. This includes safeguarding the
entire scope of your data lifetime, from creation and
deployment to secure end-of-life decommissioning.
With HPE Compute Security’s zero-trust provisioning,
your silicon root of trust extends further than ever, across the
entire ProLiant architecture. And with the ability to configure
your servers with cryptographic certificates that ensure
secure access, HPE Server Configuration Loc, Platform
Certificates guarantee more secure provisioning within your
data infrastructure. HPE facilities follow stringent
conformance requirements for all HPE products, ensuring a
trusted supply chain and removing any additional threats of
breaches by hardened data protection–from manufacturing to
delivery–so you don’t have to worry.
