For GWDG, the VAST Data Platform has delivered on its performance promises. “We get a 2:1 data reduction ratio, with zero downtime since we started using VAST in production,” Prof. Dr. Kunkel reports. This reliability is crucial for GWDG’s role as a service provider to the
research community.
The system’s ability to handle diverse workloads has been particularly impressive. Prof. Dr. Kunkel highlights, “Our Software Tree, a read-heavy workload, works like a charm on VAST.”
The ease of use and robust performance have had a tangible impact on GWDG’s operations. As Prof. Dr. Kunkel humorously puts it, one key benefit has been the ability to “sleep better,” knowing the data platform is stable and reliable.
As a national AI service center, GWDG leverages the VAST Data Platform to support various AI initiatives. “We offer services like LLM fine-tuning and racking services,” Prof. Dr. Kunkel explains. “These are mostly hosted on the VAST Data Platform.”
The platform’s performance characteristics make it ideal for AI workloads. Researchers across Germany use GWDG’s infrastructure for model training and fine-tuning tasks. The organization is also exploring AI applications to improve its operations, including automated ticket processing and enhanced system monitoring.
GWDG’s initial VAST deployment started at 600 terabytes, with plans to expand beyond one petabyte. The platform’s ability to scale seamlessly is crucial for GWDG’s evolving needs. Prof. Dr. Kunkel appreciates the value proposition: “Long-term infrastructure use is an exciting opportunity for us to minimize data migration efforts.”
The VAST Data Platform’s unified file and object storage approach has opened new possibilities for GWDG. Prof. Dr. Kunkel notes, “We found the unified namespace for S3 to be an outstanding concept. We want to explore and offer this to our users.”
This flexibility positions GWDG to tackle future data management challenges. Prof. Dr. Kunkel is particularly interested in emerging AI-driven data organization techniques: “There are new data management programs where they just pull data in, and then it organizes the directory structures for you.”
Throughout the deployment and ongoing use of the VAST Data Platform, GWDG has found a true technology partner. Prof. Dr. Kunkel praises the VAST team’s expertise: “When we talk to the VAST team, they are very knowledgeable. What they say is not marketing speak; it’s true. They tell us ‘You can do that.’ We then try it and it works.”
This level of trust and technical competence has solidified GWDG’s confidence in their choice. Prof. Dr. Kunkel summarizes his experience, “For me, this product comes with plenty of features and works as it should.”
As GWDG continues to expand its AI and other data services, the VAST Data Platform will play a central role in enabling new research capabilities and driving scientific discovery. With a robust, scalable, and flexible storage foundation, GWDG is well-positioned to meet the evolving data challenges of the scientific community it serves.