AI in the Caribbean
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- REDIRECT AI in the Caribbean
AI in the Caribbean: Server Configuration Overview
This article details the server configuration used to support the “AI in the Caribbean” project. This project focuses on applying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques to address challenges specific to the Caribbean region, including climate change modeling, disaster response, and tourism optimization. This document is intended for new system administrators and developers joining the project. It covers hardware specifications, software stack, networking, and security considerations. Refer to MediaWiki Installation Guide for general wiki setup instructions.
Hardware Infrastructure
The server infrastructure is distributed across three geographically diverse locations within the Caribbean – Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago – to ensure redundancy and minimize latency for regional access. Each location hosts a cluster of servers.
| Location | Server Role | Number of Servers | CPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | Primary AI Training & Model Storage | 4 | 2 x AMD EPYC 7763 (64 cores/128 threads) | 512GB DDR4 ECC | 8 x 4TB NVMe SSD (RAID 10) |
| Jamaica | Data Ingestion & Pre-processing | 3 | 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6338 (32 cores/64 threads) | 256GB DDR4 ECC | 4 x 2TB NVMe SSD (RAID 1) |
| Trinidad & Tobago | API Gateway & Model Serving | 2 | 2 x Intel Xeon Silver 4310 (12 cores/24 threads) | 128GB DDR4 ECC | 2 x 1TB NVMe SSD (RAID 1) |
All servers utilize 10Gbps network interfaces. Power redundancy is achieved through dual power supplies and UPS systems at each location. For detailed information on Server Room Design, see the related article.
Software Stack
The software stack is built around a Linux foundation, specifically Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS. We leverage containerization technologies for application deployment and management.
| Layer | Software | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Ubuntu Server | 22.04 LTS | Base OS for all servers. See Ubuntu Server Documentation |
| Containerization | Docker | 20.10 | Application packaging and deployment. |
| Orchestration | Kubernetes | 1.25 | Container orchestration and scaling. Refer to Kubernetes Documentation |
| AI Frameworks | TensorFlow, PyTorch | 2.10, 1.13 | Machine learning model development and training. See TensorFlow Website and PyTorch Website. |
| Database | PostgreSQL | 14 | Data storage and management. See PostgreSQL Documentation. |
| API Gateway | Kong | 2.8 | API management and routing. |
All code is version controlled using Git and hosted on a private GitLab instance. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines are implemented using GitLab CI/CD.
Networking Configuration
Each location is connected to the internet via a dedicated fiber optic connection with a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) connects the three locations, ensuring secure communication between servers.
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| VPN Protocol | WireGuard | Provides fast and secure VPN connections. See WireGuard Documentation. |
| Internal Network | 192.168.0.0/16 | Private network address space for internal communication. |
| DNS Server | Bind9 | Used for internal DNS resolution. See Bind9 Documentation. |
| Firewall | UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) | Protects servers from unauthorized access. See UFW Documentation. |
Network monitoring is performed using Prometheus and Grafana, providing real-time insights into network performance and potential issues. See Prometheus Monitoring for more information.
Security Considerations
Security is paramount. The following measures are in place:
- **Firewall:** UFW is configured on all servers to restrict access to necessary ports only.
- **Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS):** Suricata is deployed to monitor network traffic for malicious activity. See Suricata IDS/IPS.
- **Regular Security Audits:** Penetration testing is conducted quarterly by an external security firm.
- **Data Encryption:** All sensitive data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
- **Access Control:** Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is implemented using Kubernetes.
- **Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):** Enabled for all administrative access.
- **Regular Software Updates:** All software is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches.
Refer to the Server Security Best Practices article for detailed security guidelines.
Future Enhancements
Planned future enhancements include:
- Implementing a GPU cluster for accelerated AI training.
- Integrating a data lake for storing and processing large datasets.
- Exploring the use of serverless computing for specific tasks.
- Improving disaster recovery procedures.
This document will be updated as the infrastructure evolves. Please consult Contributing to Documentation for information on how to contribute to this wiki.
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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.* ⚠️