Utility computing model gains approval

Film-makers say pay-as-you-go access to IT resources was secure and reliable

A project to use pay-as-you-go access to IT resources in a real-life commercial environment has demonstrated the viability of the utility computing model, according to participants.

The SE3D Animation Showcase run by HP Labs in Bristol used an eBay-like bidding procedure to provide access to computing power for independent film-makers. The system provided rendering services – the process of converting wire-frame computer models into finished film.

‘Rendering happened to be a good application driver for the utility model because it requires high computing power,’ said Peter Toft, HP Labs programme director for SE3D.

‘The service was efficient, secure and reliable, delivering 500,000 hours of processing with 99 per cent service availability. One million unauthorised attempts to access the system were rejected and there were 16,000 unsuccessful worm attacks.’

The provision of up to 4TB of computing power on demand required a high level of automation to allow 12 participating animation film-makers to bid for the allocation of available resources in a virtual marketplace.

The resources were used to run specialist software that automated the time- and computing-intensive rendering of thousands of frames on the animators’ PCs over a standard broadband internet connection.

‘We found the service incredibly easy to use,’ said Tia Perkins, SE3D participant and co-director of short film, Ebenezer Morgan’s Photography Emporium.

‘The bidding system worked like eBay for processing time. There were periods of heavy use where you would get fewer processes done. But you learned to anticipate those, such as last thing on a Friday afternoon, for instance.’

Mike Davis, senior researcher at analyst Butler Group, said: ‘This is going to an important model in the future. I think there are parallels here with outsourcing, where it will require a lot of management to make it work.’