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