Overview of a
Beowulf System
Jan Lindheim, CACR Caltech
- Linux Overview
- Hardware Requirements
- Software Requirements
- Assembly of the Beowulf System
What is Linux?
- An independent implementation of the POSIX
- operating system specification with SYSV and
- BSD extensions
- Has no proprietary code in it
- Works on 386 or better Intel platforms
Features
- Multitasking and Multiuser
- Has memory protection between processes
- Virtual memory using paging to disk with possibility for adding more
swapping areas during runtime
- A unified memory pool for user programs anddisk cache
- Dynamically linked shared libraries
- Does core dumps for post-mortem analysis
- Supports multiple common file systems:minix-1, xenix, all SYSV file
systems,IS09960, MSDOS FS, OS/2 HPFS, NTFS
- Has it's own advanced file system whichsupports up 4 TB and 255 chars.
in file names
- TCP/IP networking
- 32 bit (64 bit on the Alpha Platform)
- Support for Symmetrical Multi ProcessorPlatform
Programs Included
- Base Linux System
- Various applications that don't need X1 1
- Program Development (C, C++, FORTRAN,
- ADA, Lisp, JAVA, Perl etc.)
- GNU Emacs, Xemacs, vi
- Object Oriented Programming
- TeX
- Tcl/Tk/TclX
- XFree-86
- Numerous Public Domain X1 1 Applications
Linux Distributions
| Redhat |
http://www.redhat.com |
| Debian |
http://www.debian.com |
| Caldera |
http://www.caldera.com |
| Craftworks |
http://www.craftwork.com |
| Slackware |
http://www.cdrom.com |
Required Hardware for a Beowulf System
- Network Switch
- PC systems (Pentium or better) that each hasat least
- 32 MB RAM,
- Ethernet Adapter,
- 2 GBdisk
- 1 Monitor
- 1 Keyboard
- Monitor/Keyboard sway switches
- Keyboard and video extension cables
- 6' twisted pair network cables
- 6-Outlet Surge Protectors
Required Software for a Beowulf System
- Communication Libraries: MPI and PVM
- Scripts for maintaining the systems efficiently
- xntp for time synchronization between the systems
- amd {lkutn Mnunter Daemnnl tn s;hare file
Assembly of the Beowulf System
- Install Linux with all the packages and tools you like to use from
your favourite Linux distribution
- Clone this system to the disks that will be placed in the other systems
and give each system a unique name and IP address
- Connect all systems to video and keyboard via a set of 4-way video/keyboard
switches
- Connect all systems' network to the network switch
Web Resources
http://www.linuxhq.com
http://www.linux.org
http://www. jn pcs.com/m kb/l inux
http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html
http://www.ssc.com/linux
ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux