Predictika · Liquid-cooled HPC and AI rack orders

An AI sales agent's liquid-cooled HPC rack order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for a BullSequana XH3500 rack with its compute blades, interconnect switch blades, Ultra Capacitor Module blades, I/O networks, drives and site conditions. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published rack and blade limits and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: BullSequana XH3500 rack orders: XH3515B and AI1242 compute blades, switch and UCM blades, I/O networks, drives, power feed, cooling and site limits. See everything this validator covers

This validator models BullSequana XH3500 rack orders, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Rack slots — the rack has 38 universal 1RU slots; an XH3515B blade takes one, an AI1242 blade takes two (a 2RU blade), and interconnect switch blades and Ultra Capacitor Module (UCM) blades take one each; the quote's stated slot total is compared with the computed total.
  • Blade options — the XH3515B offers up to 1 I/O network port (InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet) and up to 9 E1.S NVMe SSDs; the AI1242 offers up to 2 I/O network ports (Eviden BXI V3, InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet) and up to 4 SSDs; a rack takes up to 8 UCM blades.
  • Site and power — supply voltage by region (400 V EU, 415 to 480 V US, 380 V Brazil and Korea), inlet water between 6 and 40 degrees C, compute power up to 284 kW on an AC feed or 264 kW on a DC feed, and rack height (2,270 mm, or 2,436 mm with UCM) against the room clearance.

Any XH3500 rack order that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Eviden does not publish prices for BullSequana systems, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), power draw per blade, the number of switch blades a rack needs (the datasheet does not say, so a person is asked to confirm), other BullSequana lines such as XH3000, XH2000 or S, software and services.

The AI sales agentBuilds the rack order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
A slot budget shared by blades of different heightsOnly with care
Blades take one or two slots, switch and UCM blades one each, and the sum must stay within 38. It can be written as a rule, but each new blade type changes the arithmetic.		The slots used are computed on every call from every quantity on the order and compared with the rack and with the total the quote states.
Options that differ by blade typeOnly with care
I/O network choices, port counts and drive counts are different for the XH3515B and the AI1242, so each needs its own conditional rule.		Each blade type carries its own limits; every choice is checked against the blade it is on, in any order.
Site conditions that depend on other choicesOnly with workarounds
The allowed voltage depends on the region, the power ceiling on the AC or DC feed, and the rack height on whether UCM blades are fitted; these cross-field checks are spread over several rules.		Region, feed, UCM blades, voltage, water temperature, power and room clearance are in one request and are checked together.
Stated slot total that must match the orderOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with a computed total, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.		The stated figure travels with the order and is compared with the computed one on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, blocks first and then anything that needs a person.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The quote needs 39 universal 1RU slots (1 per XH3515B, 2 per AI1242, 1 per switch blade and per UCM blade); the rack has 38.
2The rack has no compute blades; the quote needs at least one BullSequana XH3515B or AI1242 blade.
3The quote has 9 Ultra Capacitor Module blades; a rack takes up to 8.
4The quote states 30 slots used, but the blades on the quote use 32.
5The XH3515B blade offers up to 1 I/O network port; the quote asks for 2 per blade.
6The XH3515B I/O network port can be InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet; the selected I/O network is not offered on this blade.
7The AI1242 blade offers up to 2 I/O network ports; the quote asks for 3 per blade.
8The AI1242 I/O network ports can be Eviden BXI V3, InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet; the selected I/O network is not offered on this blade.
9The XH3515B blade takes up to 9 E1.S NVMe SSDs; the quote asks for 10 per blade.
10The AI1242 blade takes up to 4 E1.S NVMe SSDs; the quote asks for 5 per blade.
11The supply voltage of 400 V is not one the XH3500 supports for the selected region (400 V in the EU, 415 to 480 V in the US, 380 V in Brazil and Korea).
12The supply voltage of 415 V is not one the XH3500 supports for the selected region (400 V in the EU, 415 to 480 V in the US, 380 V in Brazil and Korea).
13The inlet water temperature of 41 degrees C is outside the 6 to 40 degrees C the rack supports.
14The inlet water temperature of 5 degrees C is outside the 6 to 40 degrees C the rack supports.
15The planned compute power of 285 kW is above the 284 kW the rack supports with the selected power feed.
16The planned compute power of 270 kW is above the 264 kW the rack supports with the selected power feed.
17The room clearance of 2,400 mm is below the 2,436 mm height of the rack in this configuration.
18The quote has 18 compute blades and no interconnect switch blades; the datasheet does not say how many switch blades a rack needs, so a person should confirm the interconnect design.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Site conditions and interconnect: A rack order for the EU with a 480 V supply, hot water, a DC power ceiling and a low room

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the EU (480 V, DC power feed): 12 XH3515B blades and 6 AI1242 blades, 4 Ultra Capacitor Module blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on Ethernet and 8 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Eviden BXI V3 and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 45 degrees C, planned compute power is 280 kW and the room clearance is 2,400 mm. The quote states 28 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Supply voltage not supported for the region. The supply voltage of 480 V is not one the XH3500 supports for the selected region (400 V in the EU, 415 to 480 V in the US, 380 V in Brazil and Korea).
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  • Inlet water temperature out of range. The inlet water temperature of 45 degrees C is outside the 6 to 40 degrees C the rack supports.
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  • Planned compute power too high. The planned compute power of 280 kW is above the 264 kW the rack supports with the selected power feed.
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  • Room clearance too low for the rack. The room clearance of 2,400 mm is below the 2,436 mm height of the rack in this configuration.
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  • Interconnect design to confirm. The quote has 18 compute blades and no interconnect switch blades; the datasheet does not say how many switch blades a rack needs, so a person should confirm the interconnect design.
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2. Site conditions and interconnect: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the EU (400 V, AC power feed): 12 XH3515B blades and 6 AI1242 blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on Ethernet and 8 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Eviden BXI V3 and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 30 degrees C, planned compute power is 280 kW and the room clearance is 2,400 mm. The quote states 24 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Interconnect design to confirm. The quote has 18 compute blades and no interconnect switch blades; the datasheet does not say how many switch blades a rack needs, so a person should confirm the interconnect design.
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  • Rack summary. 18 compute blades; 24 slots used (the rack has 38); 96 compute network ports; rack height 2,270 mm.
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3. Site conditions and interconnect: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the EU (400 V, AC power feed): 12 XH3515B blades and 6 AI1242 blades, 4 interconnect switch blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on Ethernet and 8 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Eviden BXI V3 and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 30 degrees C, planned compute power is 280 kW and the room clearance is 2,400 mm. The quote states 28 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Rack summary. 18 compute blades; 28 slots used (the rack has 38); 96 compute network ports; rack height 2,270 mm.
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4. Rack slots and UCM blades: A rack order with too many UCM blades and a wrong stated slot total

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the US (415 V, AC power feed): 16 XH3515B blades and 8 AI1242 blades, 4 interconnect switch blades, 9 Ultra Capacitor Module blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on InfiniBand NDR and 9 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Ethernet and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 25 degrees C, planned compute power is 240 kW and the room clearance is 2,500 mm. The quote states 36 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Rack slots exceeded. The quote needs 45 universal 1RU slots (1 per XH3515B, 2 per AI1242, 1 per switch blade and per UCM blade); the rack has 38.
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  • Too many Ultra Capacitor Module blades. The quote has 9 Ultra Capacitor Module blades; a rack takes up to 8.
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  • Stated slots differ from the quote. The quote states 36 slots used, but the blades on the quote use 45.
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5. Rack slots and UCM blades: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the US (415 V, AC power feed): 16 XH3515B blades and 8 AI1242 blades, 4 interconnect switch blades, 2 Ultra Capacitor Module blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on InfiniBand NDR and 9 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Ethernet and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 25 degrees C, planned compute power is 240 kW and the room clearance is 2,500 mm. The quote states 38 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Rack summary. 24 compute blades; 38 slots used (the rack has 38); 128 compute network ports; rack height 2,436 mm.
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6. I/O networks and drives: An order with I/O networks and drives the blades do not offer

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the US (480 V, AC power feed): 10 XH3515B blades and 8 AI1242 blades, 4 interconnect switch blades, 4 Ultra Capacitor Module blades. Each XH3515B has 2 I/O ports on InfiniBand XDR and 12 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on InfiniBand XDR and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 25 degrees C, planned compute power is 220 kW and the room clearance is 2,500 mm. The quote states 34 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Too many I/O ports on the XH3515B. The XH3515B blade offers up to 1 I/O network port; the quote asks for 2 per blade.
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  • I/O network not offered on the XH3515B. The XH3515B I/O network port can be InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet; the selected I/O network is not offered on this blade.
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  • I/O network not offered on the AI1242. The AI1242 I/O network ports can be Eviden BXI V3, InfiniBand NDR or Ethernet; the selected I/O network is not offered on this blade.
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  • Too many NVMe drives on the XH3515B. The XH3515B blade takes up to 9 E1.S NVMe SSDs; the quote asks for 12 per blade.
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7. I/O networks and drives: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the US (480 V, AC power feed): 10 XH3515B blades and 8 AI1242 blades, 4 interconnect switch blades, 4 Ultra Capacitor Module blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on InfiniBand NDR and 9 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Eviden BXI V3 and 4 NVMe SSDs. Inlet water is 25 degrees C, planned compute power is 220 kW and the room clearance is 2,500 mm. The quote states 34 slots used. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Rack summary. 18 compute blades; 34 slots used (the rack has 38); 104 compute network ports; rack height 2,436 mm.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order for a BullSequana XH3500 rack with its compute blades, interconnect switch blades, Ultra Capacitor Module blades, I/O networks, drives and site conditions. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the published rack and blade limits and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote one BullSequana XH3500 rack for the EU (480 V, DC power feed): 12 XH3515B blades and 6 AI1242 blades, 4 Ultra Capacitor Module blades. Each XH3515B has 1 I/O port on Ethernet and 8 NVMe SSDs; each AI1242 has 2 I/O ports on Eviden BXI V3 and 4 NVMe SSDs. The rest of the request is on screen.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with four findings and one approval, all in one answer. The supply voltage of 480 V is not one the XH3500 supports for the selected region (400 V in the EU, 415 to 480 V in the US, 380 V in Brazil and Korea). The inlet water temperature of 45 degrees C is outside the 6 to 40 degrees C the rack supports. The planned compute power of 280 kW is above the 264 kW the rack supports with the selected power feed. The other one is on screen.
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  6. The validator returned four blocking findings and one approval in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for site conditions that depend on other choices, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the supply voltage to 400 V, the power feed to AC, the inlet water temperature to 30 degrees C and the stated slots used to 24. It removes the Ultra Capacitor Module blades.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Not blocked, but held for a person.
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  12. The four blocking findings are cleared; one approval remains for a person: interconnect design to confirm.
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  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the stated slots used to 28. It sets the interconnect switch blades to 4.
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  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. The earlier finding is cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  18. Five problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
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