Data Parallel Visualization and Rendering on the RAMSES Supercomputer with ANARI

TL;DR

This paper explores the challenges and solutions for 3D visualization and rendering in high-performance computing environments using ANARI, focusing on data parallel rendering across distributed systems like the RAMSES supercomputer.

Contribution

It introduces the application of ANARI for data parallel rendering in HPC, discusses associated challenges, and presents a case study on the RAMSES supercomputer.

Findings

Demonstrated data parallel rendering on RAMSES supercomputer

Identified key challenges in distributed 3D visualization in HPC

Provided insights into ANARI's applicability for HPC visualization

Abstract

3D visualization and rendering in HPC are very heterogenous applications, though fundamentally the tasks involved are well-defined and do not differ much from application to application. The Khronos Group's ANARI standard seeks to consolidate 3D rendering across sci-vis applications. This paper makes an effort to convey challenges of 3D rendering and visualization with ANARI in the context of HPC, where the data does not fit within a single node or GPU but must be distributed. It also provides a gentle introduction to parallel rendering concepts and challenges to practitioners from the field of HPC in general. Finally, we present a case study showcasing data parallel rendering on the new supercomputer RAMSES at the University of Cologne.