A uniquely positioned software solution

Essentially, PBS Professional is a specially designed workload manager for HPC systems that simplifies job submissions and efficiently distributes workloads across clusters, SMPs (shared memory processors) and hybrid configurations, scaling easily to hundreds or even thousands of processors. This leads one to wonder how exactly this is achieved.

PBS Professional becomes the focal point, managing multiple users in an HPC environment. Since all the users request resources through it, {quotes}PBS Professional is always aware of the state of the HPC system, i.e., the number of machines needed at any point of time to manage the workload in hand. Building on this information, PBS Professional turns off the machines that are not in use and also can turn these machines on as required.{/quotes} Its Green Provisioning feature gives it the capability to auto-shutdown and auto-power the HPC system.

In other words, PBS Professional uses intelligence of a higher level, in the software, to achieve the purpose of green computing, giving it an edge over existing similar facilities.

Leveraging R&D to get the shades of green

Altair’s PBS Professional development unit consists of over 25 members in India (Bangalore). This team works closely with the development team stationed at Altair’s headquarters in Troy-Michigan, USA. Besides, Altair also has an engineering services group of over 100 members stationed in India that works alongside the engineering team in Michigan on projects for customers in India and overseas. These projects span the automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, bio-medical, and oil and gas sectors. Since many projects involve simulation set-ups, Altair has invested in an HPC set-up in India comprising four clusters and a supercomputer with over a hundred cores.

In a nutshell, Altair aims to spearhead innovations that empower its clients to make superior decisions thanks to the optimisation of the analysis, management and visualisation of business and engineering information. According to Chhabra, “The experience Altair has gathered in over 20 years in innovative product design and development, advanced engineering software, and grid computing technologies stands every employee who is involved in research, in good stead.” Besides being able to draw on this expertise, employees forming part of Altair’s India R&D division are motivated by both monetary and non-monetary awards. Monthly (divisional) and quarterly (company wide) awards are presented to the most dedicated and innovative employees. This inspires employees to think out-of-the-box. The opportunity to engage in cutting-edge work also motivates employees to give their best to every project in hand. The involvement of an Indian R&D team in Altair’s foremost green IT initiative should inspire other Indian techies to go green too. Both at the individual and corporate levels, lean-and-green computer systems translate into lower running costs and greater rewards. After all, isn’t green also the colour of money?