OpenGL® API Based Analysis of Large Datasets in a Cloud Environment

Modern applications for analysing 2D/3D data require complex visual output features which are often based on the multi-platform OpenGL® API for rendering vector graphics. Instead of providing classical workstations, the provision of powerful virtual machines (VMs) with GPU support in a scientific cloud with direct access to high performance storage is an efficient and cost effective solution. However, the automatic deployment, operation and remote access of OpenGL® API-capable VMs with professional visualization applications is a non-trivial task. In this chapter the authors demonstrate the concept of such a flexible cloud-like analysis infrastructure within the framework of the project ASTOR. The authors present an Analysis-as-a-Service (AaaS) approach based on VMware™-ESX for on demand allocation of VMs with dedicated GPU cores and up to 256 GByte RAM per machine.