Fpga Design & High-performance Computing: Accelerate Applications With Custom Hardware

Introduction:

FPGA Design and High-Performance Computing empowers engineers to leverage the power of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for accelerated computing applications. This course focuses on advanced FPGA design techniques and their application in high-performance computing (HPC). Participants will learn how to design custom hardware accelerators, optimize FPGA architectures for performance, and utilize high-level synthesis (HLS) tools. This course bridges the gap between traditional software-based computing and the flexibility of custom hardware acceleration, empowering professionals to tackle complex computational challenges.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for hardware engineers, computer architects, and researchers involved in the development of high-performance computing systems, including:

• FPGA Design Engineers
• Hardware Architects
• Computer Engineers
• HPC System Designers
• Research and Development Engineers
• Software Engineers with Hardware Interest
• Professionals in Data Centers and Cloud Computing

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this FPGA Design and High-Performance Computing course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and applications of FPGAs in high-performance computing.
• Design and implement custom hardware accelerators using FPGAs.
• Utilize high-level synthesis (HLS) tools for FPGA design.
• Optimize FPGA architectures for performance and power efficiency.
• Implement parallel processing techniques on FPGAs.
• Understand the challenges and opportunities of FPGA-based HPC.
• Utilize FPGA development tools and platforms effectively.
• Implement strategies for data transfer and memory management in FPGA-based systems.
• Understand the role of FPGAs in data centers and cloud computing.
• Implement strategies for debugging and verifying FPGA designs.
• Evaluate the performance and cost of FPGA-based HPC solutions.
• Enhance their ability to design and implement high-performance FPGA applications.
• Improve their organization's HPC capabilities with FPGA technology.
• Contribute to the development of innovative and efficient HPC solutions.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in FPGA design and HPC.
• Become a more knowledgeable and effective FPGA design engineer for HPC.
• Understand ethical considerations in hardware design for HPC.
• Learn how to use FPGA development platforms and HLS tools efficiently.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to FPGAs and High-Performance Computing (HPC)

• Overview of FPGA architecture and capabilities.
• Understanding the advantages of FPGAs for HPC applications.
• Introduction to HPC concepts and architectures.
• Review of FPGA development tools and platforms.
• Setting the stage for advanced FPGA design for HPC.

Module 2: FPGA Design Fundamentals and Hardware Description Languages (HDLs)

• Understanding digital design principles and FPGA design flow.
• Implementing designs using Verilog or VHDL.
• Understanding timing analysis and constraints.
• Implementing basic arithmetic and logic units on FPGAs.
• Understanding the importance of testbenches.

Module 3: High-Level Synthesis (HLS) for FPGA Design

• Introduction to HLS tools and methodologies.
• Implementing designs using C/C++ or OpenCL for HLS.
• Understanding HLS directives and optimizations.
• Analyzing HLS reports and performance metrics.
• Understanding the trade offs between HLS and HDL.

Module 4: FPGA Architectures and Optimization Techniques

• Understanding FPGA routing and logic resources.
• Implementing pipelining and parallel processing techniques.
• Optimizing FPGA designs for performance and power efficiency.
• Utilizing on-chip memory and DSP blocks effectively.
• Understanding the importance of resource utilization.

Module 5: Memory Management and Data Transfer in FPGA-Based Systems

• Understanding memory interfaces and controllers.
• Implementing data transfer techniques (DMA, streaming).
• Utilizing external memory interfaces (DDR, HBM).
• Optimizing data transfer for high throughput.
• Understanding memory access patterns.

Module 6: Parallel Processing and Hardware Acceleration

• Implementing parallel algorithms on FPGAs.
• Utilizing systolic arrays and dataflow architectures.
• Implementing custom hardware accelerators for specific applications.
• Analyzing the performance of hardware accelerators.
• Understanding the use of OpenCL for heterogenous computing.

Module 7: FPGA Development Tools and Platforms

• Utilizing FPGA development environments (Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus).
• Implementing debugging and verification techniques.
• Utilizing simulation and emulation tools.
• Understanding the role of IP cores in FPGA design.
• Understanding the use of version control.

Module 8: FPGA Applications in Data Centers and Cloud Computing

• Understanding the role of FPGAs in data center acceleration.
• Implementing FPGA-based solutions for machine learning and data analytics.
• Utilizing FPGAs for network acceleration and security.
• Understanding the deployment of FPGAs in cloud platforms.
• Understanding the concept of FPGA as a service.

Module 9: Implementation, Verification, and Future Trends

• Implementing strategies for debugging and verifying complex FPGA designs.
• Analyzing the performance and cost of FPGA-based HPC solutions.
• Exploring emerging trends in FPGA technology and HPC (3D FPGAs, heterogeneous computing).
• Understanding the impact of AI and machine learning on FPGA design.
• Developing a roadmap for continuous improvement in FPGA-based HPC.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world.

The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 5 working days before commencement of the training.