Potential topics for your thesis
We offer the opportunity to conduct a Bachelor's or Master's thesis focusing on the evaluation of modern provisioning strategies for current Linux distributions (e.g., RHEL10) on our High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters, and, if applicable, to develop an independent solution.
The objectives of the thesis are:
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To research and analyze the current state of (container-based) provisioning solutions.
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To assess suitable approaches regarding their applicability for use in HPC environments.
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To design and implement a prototype solution.
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To take into account both diskless and diskful systems.
With OST pools, Progressive File Layouts (PFL), and the HSM framework, Lustre provides fundamental building blocks that could be used for multi-tier storage tiering (e.g. NVMe → SSD → HDD). However, a native, automatic, and policy-based tiering solution is still missing. Existing approaches (e.g. the Robinhood Policy Engine combined with copytools) are external and require manual configuration and maintenance.
The goals of this thesis are to:
- Research and analyze the current state of existing Lustre mechanisms (OST pools, PFL/FLR, HSM) as well as external tools (e.g. Robinhood).
- Evaluate existing approaches in terms of suitability, degree of automation, and performance for production HPC/AI use.
- Develop a concept for an automated, policy-based tiering solution (e.g. based on access patterns, file age, or file size).
- Implement a prototype on our Lustre cluster and evaluate it in terms of performance and practical applicability.
Prerequisites: solid Linux skills and an interest in HPC infrastructure.
Already decided on a topic? Perfect!
Even if you already have a topic, we look forward to receiving your application. Together, we'll find the best way to support you – both academically and practically.
What we're looking for:
- You are a student of computer science or related studies
- You have excellent knowledge of Linux
- You are interested in computer architecture, latest server and network technologies or embedded systems
- You are a team player and quickly familiarize yourself with new topics
What we offer:
- Working on real problems as a fully-integrated member of our team
- Thorough onboarding, support and continuous feedback
- Attractive compensation for your work