1. Overview

The IPU‑POD₆₄ reference design is a rack solution containing 16 IPU-M2000s, 1 host server, network switches and the IPU-POD system software pack. There is the option to have up to 4 servers in the IPU‑POD₆₄, depending on workload requirements. There are 64 Mk2 GC200 IPUs in total with four IPUs in each IPU-M2000.

For more information on IPU-POD systems available from Graphcore see https://www.graphcore.ai/products.

This document provides the requirements and a high-level best practice guide for deploying the IPU‑POD₆₄ into a data centre environment.

Fig. 1.1 IPU‑POD₆₄ rack front: cold aisle (four server version)

Fig. 1.2 IPU‑POD₆₄ rack back: hot aisle (four server version)

Fig. 1.3 Completed rack: cold aisle detail (four server version)

Fig. 1.4 Completed rack: hot aisle detail (four server version)

Note

All these pictures show a version with 4 servers. The standard reference design contains a single server.

1.1. Acronyms and abbreviations

This is a short list that describes some of the most commonly used terms in this document.

Table 1.1 Glossary

BMC	Baseboard Management Controller: standby power domain service processor doing system hardware management
BOM	Bill of Materials
GW	Short for IPU-Gateway, a co-processor to the four IPUs in the IPU-M2000. It enables scaling with multiple IPU-M2000 units
GW-Link	High speed communication link(s) that interconnect IPUs and IPU-GWs horizontally between IPU-M2000 units. Special cables are required for GW-Links between IPU-M2000 units
IPU-Link	High speed communication links that interconnect IPUs within and between IPU-M2000 units. Special cables are required for IPU-Links between IPU-M2000 units
PDU	Power Distribution Unit
RDMA	Remote DMA
RNIC	RDMA Network Interface Controller
RoCE	RDMA over converged Ethernet
ToR	Top of Rack. Often used in combination with the ToR RDMA switch that is placed on top of the IPU-M2000 stacked units