Developing FPGA-accelerated cloud applications with SDAccel: Practice from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Reconfigurable cloud infrastructure

Distributed systems, data center and cloud architectures are facing the exponential growth in computing requirements and the impossibility for CPU-based solutions to keep pace. Within this context these complex distributed systems have to move toward accelerated computing. Accelerators complement CPU-based architectures and deliver both performance and power efficiency. Moreover, modern data center, as we know, can be used by several different users to serve different workloads and the idea of having an underlying architecture built on reconfigurable technologies seems to provide an ideal fit for these changing, demanding, workloads. This module provides a description of the main cloud computing components and technologies, as well as detailing the current technologies to accelerate cloud computing workloads.

On how to accelerate the cloud with SDAccel

Within this module we are going to have a first taste on how to gain the best out of the combination of the F1 instances with SDAccel providing some few practical instructions on how to develop accelerated applications on Amazon F1 by using the Xilinx SDAccel development environment. Then, we are going to present what it is necessary to create FPGA kernels, assemble the FPGA program and to compile the Amazon FPGA Image, or AFI. Finally, we will describe the steps and tasks involved in developing a host application accelerated on the F1 FPGA.

Summing things up: the Smith-Waterman algorithm

Within this module we are going to introduce you to the Smith-Waterman algorithm that we have chosen to demonstrate how to create a hardware implementation of a system based on FPGA technologies using the Xilinx SDAccel design framework. We are going to dig into the details of the algorithm from its data structures to the computation flow. Then we are going to introduce the Roofline model and we are going to use it to analyze the theoretical peak performance and the operational intensity of the Smith-Waterman algorithm.

The Smith-Waterman example in details

Within this module we are going to dig deeper in the Smith-Waterman algorithm. We are going to implement a first version of the algorithm on a local server with the Xilinx SDAccel design framework. Then we are going to introduce some optimizations to improve performance, in particular we will add more parallelism in the implementation and we will introduce systolic arrays. Moreover, we will explore how we can perform data compression and then we will leverage multiple memory ports to improve memory access speed. Finally, we are going to port our implementation of the Smith-Waterman algorithm on the AWS F1 instances.

Course conclusions

We are working at the edge of the research in the area of reconfigurable computing. FPGA technologies are not used only as standalone solutions/platforms but are now included into cloud infrastructures. They are now used both to accelerate infrastructure/backend computations and exposed as-a-Service that can be used by anyone. Within this context we are facing the definition of new research opportunities and technologies improvements and the time cannot be better under this perspective. This module is concluding this course but posing interesting questions towards possible future research directions that may also point the students to other Coursera courses on FPGAs.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Maps well with professional skill development and personal growth and development

Helps learners develop professional expertise

Taught by Marco and Domenico who are distinguished for their leadership in FPGA acceleration

Provides a strong foundation for beginners in FPGA-accelerated applications

Exploits Xilinx SDAccel, which is standard in cloud computing acceleration

Reviews summary

Recommended fpga acceleration course

Students largely enjoyed clear, engaging explanations and say this excellent course provides complementary information for further learning. However, one learner hoped for more hands-on and demonstration in the materials.

This course provided clear explanations.

"The explanations are clear and engaging."

"Excellent!! I enjoyed a lot! It was complementary information for my PhD! Thank you! "

This course could benefit from more hands-on learning.

"Expected more demonstration and maybe hands-on SDAccel"

"Good to learn a new course if it would be more hands-on would have much interesting."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Developing FPGA-accelerated cloud applications with SDAccel: Practice with these activities:

Complete five practice projects from SDAccel's online documentation

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SDAccel provides lots of examples in their documentation. These will give you the chance to execute their examples and modify them to learn the intricacies.

Browse courses on FPGA

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Locate the SDAccel documentation online and navigate to their examples section
Locate at least five projects that are interesting to you
Do an initial pass of each example, line by line, to understand the flow
Implement these five projects on your local machine
Tweak the parameters to see how the different values affect the outcome

Engage in one of the tutorials on the Xilinx website

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Xilinx provides a solid number of tutorials that you can leverage to improve your understanding of the course materials.

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Identify areas of weakness in your understanding of the course materials
Navigate to Xilinx's website and search for tutorials on the topic
Choose a tutorial that corresponds with the concept you are struggling with
Take the tutorial and attempt all the exercises
If necessary, repeat the steps to take additional tutorials

Read through and summarize 'High-Performance Computing on the Intel Xeon Phi'

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This book provides a deep dive into the topic of accelerated computing. It can teach you about the underlying concepts as well as provide practical demonstrations.

View Intel Xeon Phi Processor High Performance... on Amazon

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Purchase a copy of the book
Devote at least one hour each day to read the book
Summarize each chapter in your own words
Identify areas of the book that you are struggling with
Seek out additional resources to help you understand the difficult concepts

Five other activities

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Accelerate Cloud Computing with Xilinx SDAccel Workshop

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Attend a workshop to learn how to use Xilinx SDAccel to accelerate cloud computing workloads.

Browse courses on Cloud Computing

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Register for the Xilinx SDAccel Workshop.
Attend the workshop and follow the tutorials.
Complete the hands-on exercises.

Implement FPGA Kernels Using Amazon EC2 F1 Instances

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Practice implementing FPGA kernels using Amazon EC2 F1 instances to solidify your understanding of accelerated computing on cloud platforms.

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Set up your development environment with Xilinx SDAccel.
Create a new FPGA kernel project.
Implement the FPGA kernel.
Compile the kernel and create the FPGA image.
Deploy the kernel to an Amazon EC2 F1 instance and test its performance.

Build a High-Performance FPGA-Accelerated Application

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Create a high-performance FPGA-accelerated application to demonstrate your skills and understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on High-Performance Computing

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Identify a suitable application for FPGA acceleration.
Develop an algorithm and design the FPGA architecture.
Implement the FPGA design using Xilinx SDAccel.
Optimize the application for performance.
Evaluate the application's performance and compare it to other implementations.

Build a presentation summarizing the benefits and challenges of using FPGAs for accelerated computing

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This activity will force you to research the topic of FPGA-based accelerated computing and craft a convincing presentation to your peers.

Browse courses on FPGA

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Gather information about the benefits and challenges of FPGAs for accelerated computing
Organize the information into a logical flow
Consider various presentation formats
Determine the appropriate multimedia for the presentation
Deliver a presentation

Volunteer at a local tech organization or open source project

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This will immerse you in the field of accelerated computing and allow you to network with experts in the industry.

Browse courses on FPGA

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Identify a local tech organization or open source project that aligns with your interests
Reach out to the organization or project and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend volunteer training or onboarding sessions
Actively participate in the organization or project's activities
Network with other volunteers and industry professionals

Career center

Learners who complete Developing FPGA-accelerated cloud applications with SDAccel: Practice will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineers are experts in developing and designing hardware using FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) technology. They use their knowledge of computer architecture and digital design to create custom hardware solutions for various industries like aerospace, defense, and telecommunications. This course provides a comprehensive overview of FPGA design and implementation using SDAccel, which can equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as an FPGA Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for FPGA Engineer

Hardware Accelerator Architect

Hardware Accelerator Architects design and develop hardware accelerators to enhance the performance of computing systems. They work on optimizing hardware architectures and algorithms to accelerate specific computations. This course provides a solid foundation in FPGA-based hardware acceleration using SDAccel, which can be valuable for individuals aspiring to become Hardware Accelerator Architects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Accelerator Architect

Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects design, build, and manage cloud computing solutions. They possess expertise in cloud platforms, distributed systems, and virtualization technologies. This course provides insights into cloud computing architectures and the use of FPGA acceleration in the cloud, which can be beneficial for Cloud Architects looking to enhance their skills in cloud-based hardware acceleration.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use their knowledge of statistics, machine learning, and data analysis techniques to extract insights from large datasets. This course provides an introduction to FPGA-accelerated data processing using SDAccel, which can be helpful for Data Scientists seeking to leverage hardware acceleration for their data-intensive workloads.

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Computational Biologist

Computational Biologists apply computational methods to analyze and interpret biological data. They use their expertise in bioinformatics, computer science, and mathematics to solve problems related to genomics, proteomics, and other areas of biology. This course focuses on FPGA-accelerated implementations of the Smith-Waterman algorithm, a fundamental algorithm in bioinformatics. It can provide valuable insights for Computational Biologists interested in leveraging hardware acceleration for their research.

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Computer Architect

Computer Architects design and develop the hardware and software architectures of computer systems. They work on optimizing system performance, energy efficiency, and reliability. This course provides a foundation in reconfigurable computing and FPGA-based hardware acceleration, which can be beneficial for Computer Architects seeking to explore new approaches to computer architecture.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They work on various aspects of software development, including coding, testing, debugging, and deployment. This course provides an overview of FPGA-based hardware acceleration and its integration with software applications using SDAccel. It can be useful for Software Engineers interested in exploring hardware acceleration techniques to enhance the performance of their software systems.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and integrating complex systems involving hardware, software, and networks. They work on ensuring system functionality, reliability, and performance. This course provides insights into the use of FPGA-based hardware acceleration in distributed systems and cloud computing environments. It can be beneficial for Systems Engineers looking to gain expertise in hardware acceleration for system-level design.

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Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineers design and develop embedded systems, which are computer systems embedded within larger mechanical or electrical systems. They work on optimizing system performance, memory usage, and power consumption. This course provides an introduction to FPGA-based hardware acceleration in the context of embedded systems. It can be useful for Embedded Systems Engineers interested in exploring hardware acceleration techniques to enhance the capabilities of their embedded systems.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research in various scientific disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and natural sciences. They work on developing new theories, models, and technologies. This course provides an overview of FPGA-based hardware acceleration and its potential applications in scientific research. It can be beneficial for Research Scientists seeking to explore hardware acceleration as a tool for their research endeavors.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation, such as user manuals, white papers, and training materials. They work on conveying complex technical information to a wider audience. This course provides an understanding of FPGA-based hardware acceleration and its use in various applications. It can be beneficial for Technical Writers seeking to gain expertise in hardware acceleration for effective technical writing in this field.

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Technical Product Manager

Technical Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and marketing of technical products. They work on defining product requirements, setting development roadmaps, and launching products to market. This course provides insights into the use of FPGA-based hardware acceleration in various industries and applications. It can be valuable for Technical Product Managers seeking to gain knowledge in hardware acceleration for developing and managing innovative technical products.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts work on understanding business needs and translating them into technical requirements. They work with stakeholders to define project scope, analyze data, and develop solutions. This course provides an overview of the business value of FPGA-based hardware acceleration and its potential impact on various industries. It can be beneficial for Business Analysts seeking to gain insights into hardware acceleration for effective business analysis and decision-making.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and controlling projects. They work on ensuring project success by managing resources, timelines, and budgets. This course provides an understanding of the role of FPGA-based hardware acceleration in project development and implementation. It can be useful for Project Managers seeking to gain knowledge in hardware acceleration for effective project management in this field.

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Quality Assurance Engineer

Quality Assurance Engineers are responsible for ensuring the quality of software and hardware products. They work on testing, debugging, and verifying product functionality. This course provides an overview of techniques for testing and debugging FPGA-based hardware acceleration systems. It can be beneficial for Quality Assurance Engineers seeking to gain expertise in hardware acceleration for effective quality assurance in this field.

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