A computing power cluster cannot be simply regarded as a simple accumulation of hardware. It is a collaborative system composed of high-performance computing nodes, high-speed interconnection networks, intelligent management systems, and distributed software, which can disperse computing power resources to integrate them into a unified scheduling supercomputing capacity. The computing power cluster is known as the "power heart" and is a strategic weapon at the forefront of current artificial intelligence and big data technologies.
The essence of computing power clusters: From single-point breakthroughs to system collaboration
The traditional computing model relies on the performance improvement of a single server. However, when it comes to scenarios such as training large AI models and real-time data analysis, the computing power of a single point can no longer meet the demands. Computing power clusters achieve parallel processing of computing tasks and dynamic allocation of resources through heterogeneous computing architectures (such as the collaboration of CPU, GPU, and FPGA) and high-speed networks (such as InfiniBand and RoCE). For example, the CloudMatrix 384 hypernode cluster interconnects 384 chips through a fully connected topology, providing a computing power output of 300 PetaFLOPS and significantly improving the training efficiency of the model with hundreds of billions of parameters. This system-level collaborative design enables computing power clusters to break through the "bucket effect" and achieve comprehensive optimization in dimensions such as communication latency, storage speed, and energy efficiency.
Existence significance: Driving the leap of cloud computing from a "resource pool" to an "intelligent engine"
In the early days of cloud computing, virtualization and resource elasticity were the core values, while the popularization of computing power clusters has promoted the evolution of cloud computing towards intelligence and specialization. On the one hand, computing power clusters provide underlying support for cloud service providers. For instance, Tencent Cloud has integrated high-performance networks, ultra-fast storage and acceleration frameworks through the Intelligent Computing Suite, increasing the training efficiency of customers' privately deployed ten-thousand-card clusters by 80%. Immersion liquid-cooled data centers achieve large-scale output of green computing power through technology with a PUE as low as 1.07. On the other hand, computing power clusters empower enterprises to quickly build AI capabilities. Jianghuai Automobile has shortened the cycle of vehicle crash tests by 30% by leveraging the digital twin technology of its computing power cluster. Meanwhile, biomedical research institutions have accelerated the drug development process by processing over 8,000 single-cell sequencing tasks annually through customized computing power platforms.
Deep integration with cloud computing: Elasticity, inclusiveness and ecosystem reconstruction
The combination of computing power clusters and cloud computing has given rise to three major changes. First, elastic computing power supply. Through cloud-native technology, computing power clusters can dynamically expand resources. Second, the inclusive service model. Huawei Cloud's distributed cloud solution enables customers to deploy an intelligent computing center on the same structure as the public cloud locally, ensuring data security while enjoying continuous technological upgrades. Operators have reduced computing power costs through large-scale centralized procurement (such as China Mobile's 19.1 billion yuan AI server purchase) and promoted the implementation of AI applications in small and medium-sized enterprises. Thirdly, ecological collaborative innovation. The computing power cluster promotes in-depth cooperation among chip, software and application vendors. For instance, a certain ecosystem has been adapted to over 160 mainstream large models and has jointly built industry solutions with enterprises such as Jianghuai Automobile and Conch Cement, achieving the value transformation from computing power to productivity.
Under the cloud computing architecture, computing power clusters are evolving from "computing tools" to "intelligent cornerstones", driving exponential breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, scientific simulation, and industrial Internet. Making good use of computing power clusters can bring more opportunities and new forces to enterprises.
