What is high-performance architecture?

High-performance architecture (HPA) is a platform and environment designed and purpose-built to process massive amounts of data and solve complex problems at very high speeds. An HPA includes high-performance computing (also referred to as accelerated computing), high-performance networking and high-performance storage.

Additional characteristics of an HPA can include:

  • Parallel processing: Clusters of high-powered processors operating on similar workloads that can be spread across the multiple compute nodes, executed simultaneously, and the outputs consolidated for faster completion.
  • Purpose-built and optimized for high performance: All components in an HPA are designed for high speed, high throughput and low latency to maximize throughput. You can fine-tune and make trade-offs to extract the highest possible performance across the architecture. This includes ensuring compute, storage and networking operate as a balanced throughput machine. Any one component in an idle state creates a less efficient environment that leads to bottlenecks, slowing the operations.
  • Dynamic architecture: Compute, storage and networking can grow and shrink to match workload scale demands.

AI Solutions leverage the capabilities of an HPA. Explore WWT's AI Solutions to learn about the breadth of industry use cases WWT can address.

High-performance architecture is critical to each phase of the AI workflow, from model development through deployment. Without the right foundation, enterprises will struggle to realize the full value of investments in AI applications.

High-performance computing (HPC)

The right amount of combined CPU and GPU processing power is needed to train and run modern AI engines. 

High-performance storage

The ability to reliability store, clean and scan massive amounts of data is required to train AI/ML models. 

High-performance networking

AI/ML applications require extremely high-bandwidth and low-latency network connections. 

Automation, orchestration, software and applications

HPA requires the right mix of data science tools and infrastructure optimization.

Strategy and governance

Data must be protected and readily accessible to systems and users.

Talent and skills

The right mix of experts is needed to build AI models and maintain HPA infrastructure. 

High-Performance Architecture (HPA)

AI solutions require purpose-built architectures that allow for fast model development, training, tuning and real-time intelligent interaction.

World Wide Technology Commits More Than $500M to Drive Enterprise AI Adoption at Global Scale

Three-year investment in technology, infrastructure and people includes a new AI Proving Ground lab environment, expanding the ATC's existing test and development capabilities to help organizations assess and implement AI solutions.
Press Release
•Dec 5, 2023

High-Performance Architecture: An Engine to Drive Your AI Strategy Forward | Experts

Generative AI initiatives are taking flight across the world as organizations of all kinds explore new and innovative ways to put the disruptive technology to use. But has anyone stopped to think if their IT infrastructure is ready to meet the intense data demands required of advanced AI solutions? Join Derrick Monahan, WWT's data strategy and high-performance architecture practice manager, as he talks about the vital nature of high-performance architecture — the merger of high-performance computing (HPC) and AI and machine learning (ML) workstreams into one architectural framework with the core IT infrastructure components needed to unlock the seemingly unlimited world of possibilities made possible by AI. Derrick also talks about the role of data and data governance, real world use cases being used in today's business landscape and ways you can put all of it into action.
Webinar
Sep 19, 2023 • 9am

Supercomputing Conference 2023: Key Themes and Takeaways

The Supercomputing Conference (SC) is the international conference for high-performance computing, networking, storage and analytics. Held annually, SC highlights innovation and emerging IT/ICT advancements that are a "window into the future of technology" for enterprise customers.
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•Dec 7, 2023

The Only Way to Succeed with AI is a Full Stack Approach

WWT and NVIDIA are collaborating to help organizations take a comprehensive approach to developing purpose-built AI systems and software that help digitally transform their business.
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•Apr 20, 2023

HPC + AI Myths Debunked

Learn about common HPC + AI myths, and learn why they are inacurate.
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Feb 7, 2023

Virtual events

Check out these upcoming and on demand events.

Building AI-Ready Data Centers with Cisco

The rapid evolution of AI technologies is transforming enterprise operations and reshaping the data center landscape. As businesses look to harness AI's full potential, critical questions around data center performance and capacity arise. Join WWT Senior Practice Manager for High-Performance Architecture Jeff Fonke as he talks with Cisco Fellow and Chief Architect of Global Solutions Engineering Matt Gillies as they discuss how you can unify networking, compute, security and observability to deliver AI-ready data centers.​ Jeff and Matt also talk about AI Pods that can accelerate AI model deployment with ​pre-validated, full stack systems; and other Cisco innovations making an impact on the AI landscape. ​
Webinar
•Dec 5, 2024 • 9am

Kubernetes' Key Role in Driving Enterprise AI Success | Research

AI development often involves diverse tools and frameworks that necessitate a flexible and portable infrastructure. Learn from Technical Solutions Architect Steve Younger about why the Kubernetes platform is inherently designed for flexibility and portability, making it highly suitable for managing AI workloads across different environments.
Webinar
Sep 11, 2024 • 9am

Modernizing the Data Center to Capitalize on AI with Cisco at Cisco Live! | Beyond the Booth

Generative AI may sit atop the executive agenda, but few organizations are fully prepared to harness the full potential of AI and AI-powered technologies. While at Cisco Live, we caught up with Cisco's David Jensen and WWT's Justin van Schaik to talk about the need to modernize and scale enterprise data centers for the surging growth in AI. We also talk with David and Justin about managing AI environments and workloads and how Cisco Nexus HyperFabric AI clusters make it easy for enterprise customers to build infrastructure to run generative AI models.
Webinar
Jun 20, 2024 • 9am

Go From AI-Possible to AI-Proven with Dell Validated Designs | Partner Spotlight

AI strategies are taking flight across all industries, but very few are moving at the same speed. Whether you're a slow mover or fast learner, learn how using Dell's Validated Designs for Generative AI can help you get where you need to go faster and with less risk.
Webinar
May 16, 2024 • 9am

Move Beyond AI Readiness: Key Technology Decisions to Accelerate AI Growth | Research

The incredible potential of AI to drive generational transformation has the C-suite scrambling for ways to best position their organizations for success. But readiness is just half the battle — real business and technology decisions must be made to drive success past the finish line and beyond. Join WWT AI experts Tim Brooks and Brent Collins as they discuss the key technology decisions executives must guide for AI transformation to come to fruition, such as buying or building AI models, cloud vs on-prem deployment models, data architectures and management strategies, security and building IT infrastructure that can handle AI workloads.
Webinar
Apr 11, 2024 • 9am

Ready to get started?

High Performance Computing (HPC) Discovery & Alignment Workshop

High-performance computing (HPC) is the ability to process data and perform complex calculations at high speeds delivering performance and scale. In today's markets, a successful HPC cluster can be a formidable competitive advantage. And many are turning to these tools to stay competitive. That said, these systems are inherently very complex and must be built, deployed and managed properly to realize their full potential. Improper implementation can hinder your enterprise's ability to meet implementation deadlines, quickly identify and resolve problems, perform updates and maintenance and more.
Workshop
•5 hrs

Components of Compute

A server is a crucial piece of hardware in every organization's data center. Its primary role is to support the success of an organization's web-tier, mid-tier, database, and AI application stack from a networking, processing, and storage standpoint regardless if the application is deployed within a natively installed operating system, in a virtual machine, or as a cloud-native or edge-native application. The server components that make up this hardware system can vary depending on the specific needs and requirements of the organization. The main components commonly found in a server include CPU (central processing unit), Memory, Network Interface Cards, Storage Devices, and in some cases accelerators like DPUs (data processing unit) and GPUs (graphical processing unit). In this Learning Path engineers can learn about the latest solutions on the market today that they can integrate into their solutions to help drive their business forward most effectively and efficiently.
Learning Path

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