[Beowulf] Docker vs KVM paper by IBM

[Gavin W. Burris]

On 08:23PM Wed 01/28/15 +0000, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
> So you end up with very knowledgeable users and programmers having to build
> their own compilers and toolchains in the teeth of sysadmins who don't want
> anyone to mess up their "supported systems as required by the service level
> agreements" -- a recipe for hurt feelings all around

So much this.  The dynamic tends to pit researcher against sysadmin,
when in reality they have the same objective, to fulfill the mission and
produce results.  I prefer to not be the iron-hand of the sysadmin, but
instead the solution to system problems.  In 99% of my experience,
asking users to support more of the stack is not an option.  It really
is about setting expectations, being a friendly enabler, and making
things work in a way that is maintainable and will not fail them in the
inevitable crunch before a deadline.

Cheers.

-- 
Gavin W. Burris
Senior Project Leader for Research Computing
The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania