Ansys Lumerical

Ansys Lumerical offers a suite of photonic simulation tools that enable the design and analysis of complex optical components and systems. These tools are essential for engineers and researchers working on cutting-edge photonic technologies across various industries.

System Requirements for Ansys Lumerical

To ensure optimal performance with Ansys Lumerical, your system should meet the following specifications:

Supported Operating Systems

• Windows: 64-bit editions of Windows 8.1 and 10

• Windows Server: 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019

• macOS: Versions 10.12 (Sierra), 10.13 (High Sierra), 10.14 (Mojave), and 10.15 (Catalina)

• Linux: 64-bit editions of RedHat Enterprise Linux 6 and 7, CentOS 6 and 7

Hardware Specifications

• Processor: Multicore Intel or AMD processor with support for AVX2 instruction set

• Memory: Minimum of 8 GB RAM; 16 GB or more recommended for larger simulations

• Graphics: OpenGL 4.5 compatible graphics card

• Storage: SSD with at least 50 GB of available space

Meeting these specifications will help you get the most out of Ansys Lumerical, ensuring efficient workflows and high-quality outputs.

Enabling GPU Acceleration in Ansys Lumerical

Ansys Lumerical's Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) solver supports GPU acceleration to enhance simulation performance. To enable GPU acceleration:

1. Verify GPU Compatibility
   Ensure your system has a CUDA-enabled NVIDIA GPU with compute capability 3.0 or higher.

2. Install NVIDIA CUDA Toolkit and Drivers
   Download and install the appropriate CUDA Toolkit and NVIDIA drivers from the NVIDIA website.

3. Configure FDTD to Use the GPU
   In the FDTD simulation environment:

   • Navigate to the Resource Configuration settings.

   • Select the option to enable GPU acceleration.

   • Specify the number of GPUs to utilize for the simulation.

4. Monitor GPU Utilization
   Use the NVIDIA System Management Interface (nvidia-smi) to monitor GPU usage and ensure effective utilization during simulations.

By following these steps, you can effectively enable and utilize GPU acceleration in Ansys Lumerical.

Top Tips to Speed Up Ansys Lumerical Simulations

• Optimize Simulation Parameters
  Adjust mesh settings and time-step parameters to balance accuracy and computational load.

• Leverage Parallel Processing
  Utilize multiple CPU cores and GPUs by configuring parallel processing options to distribute the workload effectively.

• Manage Memory Usage
  Ensure your system has sufficient RAM to handle large simulations, as insufficient memory can lead to increased paging and slower performance.

• Update Software and Drivers
  Regularly update Ansys Lumerical and your GPU drivers to the latest versions to benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes.

• Simplify Models
  Reduce unnecessary complexity in your models to decrease simulation time without compromising essential details.

Implementing these strategies can help maintain smooth and reliable performance in Ansys Lumerical.

Top Recommended GPUs for Ansys Lumerical

• NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core
  Designed for high-performance computing, the A100 offers exceptional processing power, making it ideal for large-scale simulations in Lumerical.

• NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000
  This professional-grade GPU provides 24 GB of GDDR6 memory and is optimized for complex simulations, offering excellent performance and stability.

• NVIDIA Tesla V100
  Built for intensive computational tasks, the Tesla V100 delivers outstanding performance for demanding photonic simulations.

• NVIDIA RTX 3090
  With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, the RTX 3090 is a cost-effective option for advanced GPU computing in Lumerical.

Selecting a high-performance GPU enhances Ansys Lumerical's capabilities, ensuring faster computations and better support for data-intensive applications.

Enhance Your Workflow with Vagon

To further accelerate your simulations and streamline your workflow, consider utilizing Vagon's cloud PCs. Powered by 48 cores, 4 x 24GB RTX-enabled NVIDIA GPUs, and 192GB of RAM, Vagon allows you to work on your projects faster than ever. It's easy to use, right in your browser. Transfer your workspace and files in just a few clicks and experience the difference for yourself!