[Beowulf] Mixing 32-bit compute nodes with 64-bit head nodes

[Reuti]

Am 10.05.2006 um 23:43 schrieb Andrew D. Fant:

> I know that the common wisdom on this subject is "don't do that",  
> but for

Why? I have one cluster with a 32-bit head-node and 64-bit compute  
nodes, one cluster with the opposite bit-width (both due to  
historical/upgrading reasons) and also ones consisting only of one  
architecture. All is working fine.

Only point to mention is to take care with the location where you  
compile programs, so that the compilation can run in the cluster in  
the correct and intended way.

-- Reuti


> various reasons, I have to look at the possibility of putting a 64- 
> bit system
> (probably EMT as opposed to Opteron) as the user node of our  
> cluster, I have a
> separate management node that handles the batch scheduler, license  
> management
> and compute node imaging, and related duties, which would remain a  
> 32-bit Xeon,
> so that isn't going to directly factor into the decision.  This is  
> motivated by
> a desire to allow users to run interactive jobs on the user node  
> instead of
> playing games with wrapper scripts to run them on compute nodes.   
> My personal
> preference would be to have a separate system that can remotely  
> submit to the
> existing cluster via the batch queues, but there is a desire by  
> management to
> limit the number of different systems that a user needs to know  
> about logging
> into.  The 64-bit motivation is mostly about providing adequate  
> memory for
> multiple users running gui applications.
>
> Has anyone had any success with this approach, or failing that, any  
> horror
> stories that would support the more flexible approach of separating  
> the shell
> server from the head node?
>
> Thanks,
> 	Andy
>
> -- 
> Andrew Fant    | And when the night is cloudy    | This space to let
> Molecular Geek | There is still a light           
> |----------------------
> fant at pobox.com | That shines on me               | Disclaimer:  I  
> don't
> Boston, MA     | Shine until tomorrow, Let it be | even speak for  
> myself
>
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