Data Centric Computing

Data Centric Computing is a workstream of the OCP Future Technologies Initiative (FTI).

Data-Centric Computing has emerged as a critical paradigm shift in response to the limitations of traditional CPU-centric computing models. As CPU performance improvements based on Dennard scaling and Moore’s Law have reached their limits, the challenge of handling large amounts of data efficiently has become paramount. This workstream focuses on exploring and developing Data-Centric Computing technologies that prioritize optimal computation placement based on data location and computational complexity, rather than simply moving all data to the CPU for processing.

The shift towards Data-Centric Computing is driven by the need for power-efficient data handling and the limitations of bandwidth in traditional models. This approach builds upon the success of domain-specific computing architectures, such as graphics and network cards, and has expanded to include various accelerators. In environments where power efficiency is crucial, such as hyperscaler data centers, ASICs and FPGAs are increasingly used to offload and accelerate OS, security, and data processing tasks.

Key Areas

The primary focus of this workstream is on developing methods for horizontal integration across data-centric technologies, enabling their combined use in a more natural and efficient manner. To achieve this, the workstream addresses three key areas:

• Common Computing Interface — developing a standardized interface that allows heterogeneous data-centric technologies to communicate and interact effectively.
• Resource Discovery and Management — creating systems and protocols for identifying, allocating, and managing diverse data-centric computing resources within a unified framework.
• Sustainable Scaled Computing — ensuring that the integrated data-centric computing solutions can scale efficiently while maintaining sustainability in terms of power consumption and resource utilization.

By concentrating on these aspects, the workstream aims to foster a more integrated and flexible data-centric computing ecosystem, capable of leveraging the strengths of various technologies in combination to address complex data processing challenges.