Exploring Astra: Investigating Advanced Architectures for NNSA Mission

TLDRAstra, the first project within the Vanguard program, aims to investigate the viability of using 64-bit high-performance computing ARM processors for the NNSA mission. The cluster will have a theoretical peak performance of 2.3 petaflop, with a focus on achieving high utilization. Sandia was chosen to host Astra due to its expertise in advanced architectures and its sustainable data center design.

Key insights

💡Astra is a project within the Vanguard program that aims to explore the use of ARM processors for high-performance computing in the NNSA mission.

🚀Astra will have a theoretical peak performance of 2.3 petaflops, making it one of the fastest ARM-based processor clusters in the world.

💧Astra's water-cooled indirect system and energy-efficient design make it an environmentally friendly solution with potential water savings of 6-18 million gallons per year.

🏭Sandia's long history with advanced architectures and its LEED Gold Data Center make it the ideal host for Astra.

🔬Astra provides an opportunity to test large-scale ARM-based technology for mission applications, enabling future advancements in high-performance computing.

Q&A

What is the Vanguard program?

—The Vanguard program is a program by the NNSA that investigates advanced architectures and technologies for supporting their mission codes.

What does Astra aim to achieve?

—Astra aims to investigate the viability of using ARM processors for high-performance computing in the NNSA mission, with a focus on achieving high utilization.

What is the theoretical peak performance of Astra?

—Astra has a theoretical peak performance of 2.3 petaflops, making it one of the fastest ARM-based processor clusters in the world.

How is Astra environmentally friendly?

—Astra's water-cooled indirect system and energy-efficient design contribute to significant water savings and sustainability.

Why was Sandia chosen to host Astra?

—Sandia was chosen due to its long history with advanced architectures and its LEED Gold Data Center, making it a reliable and sustainable host for Astra.

Timestamped Summary

00:00[Music]

00:05Astra is a project within the Vanguard program that investigates ARM processors for high-performance computing in the NNSA mission.

02:44Astra, with a theoretical peak performance of 2.3 petaflops, will be one of the fastest ARM-based processor clusters in the world.

03:44Astra's water-cooled indirect system and sustainable design contribute to environmental friendliness and potential water savings of 6-18 million gallons per year.

05:43Sandia, chosen for its expertise in advanced architectures and LEED Gold Data Center, is an ideal host for Astra.

07:43[Music]