DICE: Data Intensive Computing Environment

Real Testing * Real Data * Real Results

The Case for Independent Test & Evaluation

The high performance computing (HPC) and information technology (IT) community must discover new technologies and rapidly transform discoveries into validated, trusted high-value end products and services. But in the real environment, it’s not enough for a product manufacturer to say a product or technology works and meets specifications.  In reality, customers and end users want validated evidence that products and technologies meet promised standards and specifications.  It is critical that products and emerging technologies function correctly and consistently to ensure success in the marketplace, while enhancing business value for the end user. Independent testing by a vendor-neutral, realistic test environment is a cost-effective and credible way to ensure the part, component and system solution work.  Based on research conducted by Avetec, software and hardware defects realized in the production environment can cost much more to fix then if they were found during testing. 

Whether you are a data center trying to maximize technology investments or a manufacturer trying to accelerate time-to-market, it is critical that products function as specified. With diverse technologies - both hardware and software - being used in data centers that are geographically dispersed across dissimilar architectures, realistic testing is even more critical and challenging. That is what sets DICE apart. 

DICE is the industry’s source for independent product and technology validations, consulting and research services.  Live, actual tests are conducted across geographically distributed DICE test sites with full connectivity using high-speed, real-world wide area networks. 

Real testing at representative test sites – real data - real results and enhanced credibility, period.

DICE Improves Credibility & Functionality. DICE supports the transformation of innovations into trusted products and services. Using the DICE test and validation process, products and emerging technologies are independently and thoroughly evaluated using a test environment that mirrors real life. Testing a wide range of attributes, DICE is the only test and evaluation environment of its kind and has become the trusted source for evaluating and validating new and emerging IT and HPC products and technologies.

Benefit to End Users/Data Centers

Every data center is unique with specific challenges and requirements.  DICE has served data centers since its inception with testing and validation of new products and technologies being introduced to the production environment of diverse data centers.  Evaluations include, but are not limited to the testing of installation processes; performance specifications; integration with existing architecture; and features, functionality and usability.  DICE also supports data centers by assessing and analyzing investments in new products and technologies.  DICE can help determine the real needs of your data center by uncovering and defining the requirements to run the business as it relates to IT.  These requirements are the basis for testing products and technologies to create the success or failure to integrate these technologies into a center’s IT infrastructure. In addition, DICE supports data centers by researching and identifying potential product and technology solutions in support of these requirements, and finally testing, evaluating and validating identified product or technology alternatives. 

By utilizing the integrated DICE environment and the DICE team of HPC and IT experts dedicated to the advancement of innovations and discoveries, you are guaranteed quality results within a dedicated time frame.  Our highly skilled and experienced testers will save you time, money and frustration by evaluating different scenarios in heterogeneous architectures at a single site or across multiple sites.  We take your testing to the next level by utilizing the already constructed DICE environment thereby freeing your IT personnel to focus on your core mission and IT operations.  The DICE environment is a representative of HPC data centers which allows for real testing and credible results and is flexible to accommodate a variety of configurations. Because DICE is an independent, third party, evaluators are not biased to any proposed implementation of technology thus allowing testing of multiple vendor offerings of interest by the customer.  Other benefits realized by data centers using independent DICE test, evaluation and validation services:

    • Realize Return on Investment (ROI) sooner by minimizing/avoiding unforeseen problems.
    • Maximize technology investments focused on critical challenges.
    • Minimize/avoid disruptions and trouble-shooting in your production environment.
    • Test what-if scenarios to reflect the rapidly changing environment and requirements.
    • Free up valuable facility space, and power and cooling for use by operations not testing.
    • Conduct testing across a wide-area distributed heterogeneous environment.
    • Gain technical insight into detailed requirements and or desires for future RFP releases.  

Vendor Benefits of Independent Testing

Because DICE is an independent, third party conducting thorough test and evaluation services, the credibility of vendor claims and objectivity of their marketing messages stand-out among the clutter and noise of endless promises.  Independent testing by a vendor-neutral body improves the validity of performance claims and allows companies to identify and correct deficiencies and vulnerability issues before deployment, thus meeting customer expectations and strengthening customer confidence, satisfaction and ultimately, brand loyalty.  Optimize product design, performance and functionality by conducting more thorough testing in a real environment representative of the capabilities and standards found in a customer’s typical HPC or Enterprise data centers with heterogeneous architectures.  The DICE environment will also allow testing across multiple sites of a wide area distribution utilizing real world networks.  This type of connectivity offers tremendous insight to understand how wide area communication will work over networks that may have competing resources and not just a pristine and dedicated setup.  Team up with DICE to understand the needs of the HPC clients of tomorrow and accelerate time-to-market for new innovations.

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