AI in Yorkshire
AI in Yorkshire: Server Configuration
This article details the server configuration used to support the “AI in Yorkshire” project, a research initiative focusing on applying artificial intelligence to regional data sets. This is intended as a guide for new system administrators and developers contributing to the project. Understanding the underlying infrastructure is crucial for effective deployment and maintenance. We will cover hardware specifications, software stack, networking, and security considerations. Please refer to the System Administration Guide for general MediaWiki server administration.
Hardware Overview
The core infrastructure consists of three primary server nodes: a head node for control and data processing, a storage node for large dataset management, and a GPU node dedicated to model training. All servers are located within a secure data center in Leeds. Detailed specifications are provided below.
| Server Role | Hostname | CPU | RAM | Storage | Network Interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ai-yorkshire-head.example.com | Intel Xeon Gold 6248R (24 cores) | 128GB DDR4 ECC | 1TB NVMe SSD (OS & Applications) + 4TB HDD (Temporary Data) | 10GbE | | |||||
| ai-yorkshire-storage.example.com | AMD EPYC 7763 (64 cores) | 256GB DDR4 ECC | 120TB RAID6 HDD | 40GbE | | |||||
| ai-yorkshire-gpu.example.com | Intel Xeon Gold 6338 (32 cores) | 256GB DDR4 ECC | 2TB NVMe SSD (OS & Models) | 10GbE | |
These servers are powered by redundant power supplies and connected to a dedicated cooling system. See the Data Center Documentation for more information on the physical infrastructure. Regular hardware health checks are performed as outlined in the Server Maintenance Schedule.
Software Stack
The software environment is built around a Linux base, utilizing containerization for application deployment and management. We use Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS as our operating system.
| Component | Version | Purpose | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS | Base Operating System | | 23.0.1 | Containerization Platform | | 1.26 | Container Orchestration | | 3.10 | Primary Programming Language | | 2.12 | Machine Learning Framework | | 2.0 | Machine Learning Framework | | 15 | Database Management System | | 3.1 | Interactive Notebook Server | |
All software is managed via a centralized configuration management system based on Ansible, ensuring consistency across all nodes. Software updates are applied according to the Release Management Policy. The Software Repository contains all custom software packages. We also utilize Virtual Environments for project specific dependencies.
Networking Configuration
The servers are connected via a dedicated VLAN within the data center network. Static IP addresses are assigned to each server, and DNS resolution is handled by an internal DNS server. Firewall rules are configured to restrict access to only necessary ports.
| Server Role | IP Address | Subnet Mask | Gateway | DNS Server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 192.168.1.10 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.1.1 | 192.168.1.1 | | 192.168.1.20 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.1.1 | 192.168.1.1 | | 192.168.1.30 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.1.1 | 192.168.1.1 | |
Network monitoring is performed using Nagios, and alerts are configured for any network issues. The Network Diagram provides a visual representation of the network topology. Access to the servers is restricted via SSH Keys and multi-factor authentication. Please consult the Firewall Ruleset for detailed port access information.
Security Considerations
Security is paramount for the “AI in Yorkshire” project, given the sensitive nature of the data being processed. The following security measures are in place:
- Regular security audits are conducted.
- All data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
- Access control is strictly enforced based on the principle of least privilege.
- Intrusion detection and prevention systems are deployed.
- All software is kept up to date with the latest security patches.
See the Security Policy for complete details on security procedures. We also follow the guidelines outlined in the Data Protection Regulations. Incident response procedures are detailed in the Incident Response Plan.
Further Information
For more information, please refer to the following resources:
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️