2026-03-11 –, Main Hall
As AI, HPC, and data-intensive research workloads continue to grow, many institutions face a common challenge: how to modernize research computing environments without replacing existing infrastructure, expanding staff, or locking into proprietary platforms. This talk presents a real-world case study of deploying projectEUREKA! with integrated Open OnDemand, an AI and HPC orchestration platform on Kubernetes, using a repurposed on-premises HPC cluster at Texas A&M University–San Antonio (TAMUSA).
We describe how Kubernetes was used as a local orchestration layer, enabling flexible, project-centric workflows across resources, while providing a browser-based experience. Demonstrates how institutions can extend the life of existing hardware, simplify user access, and support modern workflows.
Many campus HPC environments struggle with rising costs and licensing complexity of traditional cluster management tools, increasing demand for GPUs and AI software stacks, steep learning curves for users unfamiliar with command-line HPC, and limited operational bandwidth to support rapidly evolving toolchains. Open OnDemand has proven effective in lowering barriers to access for HPC users, but backend architectures often remain rigid and difficult to adapt. This talk explores how pairing Open OnDemand with a Kubernetes-based local platform can address both user experience and operational flexibility.
The TAMUSA deployment leverages projectEUREKA! to integrate Kubernetes (K3s) as a lightweight, on-prem orchestration layer; KubeVirt for GPU-enabled virtual desktops and interactive workloads; projectEUREKA!'s integration of Open OnDemand for secure, browser-based access; and project-scoped automation for storage, users, and permissions. All components were deployed on repurposed TAMUSA cluster nodes, avoiding new hardware purchases and preserving institutional control over data and identity. This open-source foundation ensured scalability without vendor lock-in.
Boyd Wilson, CEO/CTO of Omnibond, formerly, Boyd served as Software CTO and also Executive Director over computing facilities and operations at Clemson University
Boyd has extensive experience and leadership in the areas of software development, advanced computing infrastructure, security & identity, and transportation AI analytics. He has worked in development management for products sold by Novell, StorageTek, Sun, Oracle, Opentext, and Omnibond.