The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis
The International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis
Workshop: HPC Systems Professionals Workshop (HPCSYSPROS25)
Authors: Jason Kincl and Cory Latschkowski (Red Hat)
Abstract: Managing operating system deployments across HPC clusters remains challenging. This presentation examines bootc, a technology that packages operating systems as OCI containers to simplify cluster management. We'll explore how bootc enables atomic OS updates, rollbacks, and version control similar to container workflows.
The talk covers bootc's underlying technologies, particularly composefs for efficient storage and deployment. We'll discuss benefits for configuration management and reproducibility in HPC environments, while addressing current limitations specific to high-performance computing workloads. Practical examples will demonstrate bootc deployment in test environments compared to traditional image-based provisioning methods.
This session provides systems professionals with an initial evaluation of whether this emerging technology could address cluster management needs and improve operational workflows while modernizing HPC infrastructure management.
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