Gpgpu systems and services

Abstract

Graphics processing units (GPUs) deployed in general purpose GPU (GPGPU) units are combined into a GPGPU cluster. Access to the GPGPU cluster is then offered as a service to users who can use their own computers to communicate with the GPGPU cluster. The users develop applications to be run on the cluster and a profiling module tracks the applications' resource utilization and can report it to the user and to a subscription server. The user can examine the report to thereby optimize the application or the cluster's configuration. The subscription server can interpret the report to thereby invoice the user or otherwise govern the users' access to the cluster.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for offering access to a general purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU) compute cluster, the method comprising:
 communicating with a user computer seeking access to the GPGPU compute cluster to control access by the user computer to the GPGPU compute cluster;   determining that the user computer is presently subscribed to and has the requisite permissions to access one or more GPGPU units in the GPGPU compute cluster;   receiving a specification for submission to the GPGPU compute cluster, the specification received from the user computer seeking access to the GPGPU compute cluster;   executing the specification at the GPGPU compute cluster to produce one or more computational results as defined by the specification   tracking resource utilization data during execution of the specification by one or more GPGPU units in the GPGPU computer cluster; and   controlling utilization of one or more GPGPU units in the GPGPU compute cluster during execution of the specification and responsive to the resource utilization data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising storing resource utilization data in a data array communicatively coupled to the GPGPU computer cluster for subsequent control of one or more units in the GPGPU compute cluster during execution of a later received specification. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising invoicing a user of the user computer based on the resource utilization data. 
     
     
         5 . A method for offering access to a general purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU) compute cluster, the method comprising:
 communicating with a user computer seeking access to the GPGPU compute cluster to control access by the user computer to the GPGPU compute cluster;   determining that the user computer is presently subscribed to and has the requisite permissions to access one or more GPGPU units in the GPGPU compute cluster;   receiving a specification for submission to the GPGPU compute cluster, the specification received from the user computer seeking access to the GPGPU compute cluster;   configuring one or more units in the GPGPU compute cluster in accordance with the specification;   producing one or more computational results as defined by the specification, the computational results generated by the GPGPU compute cluster following configuration as defined by the specification;   tracking resource utilization data during execution of the specification by one or more GPGPU units in the GPGPU computer cluster; and   controlling utilization of one or more GPGPU units in the GPGPU compute cluster during execution of the specification and responsive to the resource utilization data.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 alternatively configuring one or more units in the GPGPU computer cluster in a manner not set forth in the specification;   producing one or more computation results as defined by the specification, the computational results generated by the alternatively configured GPGPU units in parallel with the computational results generated by the one or more units of the GPGPU units as defined by the specification; and   tracking resource utilization data during execution of the specification by the one or more GPGPU units in the alternatively configured GPGPU computer cluster.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising identifying the more optimal GPGPU computer cluster configuration for execution of the specification and subsequently executing the specification in accordance with the more optimal configuration.