Testing Docker Performance for HPC Applications

TL;DR

This paper compares the performance impacts of using Docker containers versus KVM virtualization for HPC applications, analyzing synthetic benchmarks and real-world applications to identify key infrastructure factors affecting performance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive performance comparison between Docker and KVM for HPC, highlighting how infrastructure configurations influence application efficiency.

Findings

Docker introduces less performance penalty than KVM in HPC environments.

CPU type and networking configuration significantly affect container and VM performance.

Synthetic and real application tests show consistent performance trends.

Abstract

The main goal for this article is to compare performance penalties when using KVM virtualization and Docker containers for creating isolated environments for HPC applications. The article provides both data obtained using commonly accepted synthetic tests (High Performance Linpack) and real life applications (OpenFOAM). The article highlights the influence on resulting application performance of major infrastructure configuration options: CPU type presented to VM, networking connection type used.