چکيده
Introduction of Containers in HPC
The introduction of containerization into the HPC ecosystem has transformed how applications
are managed and deployed, providing a solution to long-standing issues with dependency
management, resource consumption, and repeatability [3]. Containers are a relatively new addition
to the HPC world, gaining prominence following Docker's success in cloud computing
environments. However, its uptake in HPC has been limited due to initial worries regarding
performance overhead, security, and compatibility with standard HPC procedures.
Despite these initial concerns, containerization has increasingly become an essential component
of HPC workflows due to the unique benefits it provides for managing complex, large-scale
applications. Containers are well-suited to HPC systems because they provide a constant, isolated
environment for running applications [2]. This isolation ensures that the software stack within a
container is unaffected by changes in the underlying system, which is critical in HPC environments
where applications may run for extended periods of time or require highly specialized
configuration.
Furthermore, containers handle one of HPC's most significant challenges: software dependency
management. In typical HPC workflows, various programs may require different versions of the
same libraries or tools, causing disputes and difficulty in managing shared resources. Containers
enable users to bundle all necessary dependencies within the container, guaranteeing that each
program operates in its own isolated environment without interfering with other software on the
system [4]. This also makes it easier to upgrade or patch software because users can update their
containers without affecting the rest of the system.
