Section A – Short Concept Questions (Description)
Section A consists of short conceptual questions that test the fundamental knowledge of High Performance Computing (HPC). These questions usually require brief answers explaining basic concepts such as grid computing, cloud computing, cluster computing, OGSA (Open Grid Services Architecture), and parallel computing approaches.
Students are expected to have a clear understanding of the core ideas behind distributed systems and modern computing infrastructures. Questions in this section typically focus on definitions, characteristics, and benefits of technologies used in high-performance systems.
The purpose of this section is to evaluate how well students understand the basic terminology and principles of HPC environments, including how cloud services, grid technologies, and cluster architectures are used to process large-scale computations efficiently.
Answering these questions correctly requires a good conceptual understanding of the topics studied throughout the course. Short and precise answers are usually sufficient, but the explanation must clearly show the student’s understanding of the concept.
Questions for Section A
What are the derivatives of grid computing?
How can business grids be defined in distributed computing?
What is OGSA and why is it important in grid computing?
What are the requirements of open grid services?
What is cluster computing and where is it used?
What are the alternative approaches to parallel computing?
What is an HPC cluster used for?
What are the major benefits of cloud computing?
Explain the basic architecture of cloud computing.
What are the types of cloud service development?
Section B – Descriptive Questions (Description)
Section B contains descriptive questions that require detailed explanations of High Performance Computing concepts. Students must write structured answers explaining architectures, environments, and technologies used in distributed computing systems.
This section focuses on topics such as grid computing architecture, cluster systems, cloud computing implementations, and parallel programming techniques. Students are expected to explain system structures, components, and their functionalities with clarity.
The questions may also require explanations of frameworks like GT4 (Globus Toolkit 4) and architectures such as Beowulf clusters, which are commonly used in HPC environments.
To answer these questions effectively, students should include diagrams, examples, and explanations of system workflows wherever necessary. This section tests not only conceptual knowledge but also the ability to present technical information clearly.
Questions for Section B
What is a high-performance application development environment?
What are the different types of grid computing systems? Explain them.
Explain the architecture and functional modules of GT4.
Define a cluster and explain its basic architecture.
What is parallel programming with MPI and why is it important?
Explain the architecture of the Beowulf system.
What are the implementations of cloud computing?
Explain the architecture of cloud computing with a diagram.
Section C – Analytical / Long Answer Questions (Description)
Section C includes long analytical questions that require deep understanding and detailed explanations of HPC technologies. These questions are designed to evaluate students’ ability to analyze computing architectures and discuss advanced concepts.
Students must explain how different HPC technologies are used in real-world applications, including scientific computing, large-scale data processing, and distributed systems.
This section often includes questions related to grid applications, cloud computing components, and distributed computing frameworks. Students may also need to write short notes on important HPC technologies such as PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine), Beowulf Project, and Berkeley NOW architecture.
Answers in this section should be well structured and include technical explanations, examples, and diagrams where applicable. This section evaluates both theoretical knowledge and analytical thinking.
Questions for Section C
Explain the major grid computing applications and their usage patterns.
Write short notes on the following:
PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine)
Beowulf Project
Berkeley NOW Architecture
Discuss the main components of cloud computing and their functions.
