[Beowulf] Software installation across cluster

[Jörg Saßmannshausen]

Hi Trevor,

I got a simple solution for that:
I got all the software (OS, bootloader and programs) installed in one folder 
on the headnode and I am simply using rsync to copy it over to the nodes. So 
apart from the home directory, there is only /opt and the SGE NFS mounted. 

I am not running NIS or suchlike but stick to the old password, shadow, and 
group files in /etc.

This way around if the headnode crashes there is a good chance the program 
will continue to run until the headnode is back. From experiences that is 
working (strangely but true).

Also, as I got a heterogeneous environment in one cluster, i.e. Sandybridge, 
Ivy-Bridge and Haswell CPUs, I can distribute the highly optimised 
libraries/programs individually. This is a bit of manual work but given I 
don't need to re-install the nodes often the installation of the users and the 
programs are actually easy.

I know there are other ways of doing it and I think they all have their pros 
and cons. In the end, use something you feel comfortable with and you know how 
to manage. 

My 2 cents here :D

All the best from a dark London

Jörg


On Dienstag 26 Mai 2015 Trevor Gale wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> I was wondering what solutions other use for easy software installation
> across clusters. Is there any method that is generally accepted to be the
> most effective for making sure that all the software is consistent across
> each node?
> 
> Thanks,
> Trevor
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-- 
*************************************************************
Dr. Jörg Saßmannshausen, MRSC
University College London
Department of Chemistry
Gordon Street
London
WC1H 0AJ 

email: j.sassmannshausen at ucl.ac.uk
web: http://sassy.formativ.net

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