Scyld ClusterWare - Features and Benefits
Scyld ClusterWare offers many important features and benefits.
- Fast Provisioning - Shorter Time to Productivity, Quick and Easy Scale Out
Compute nodes are provisioned from the master node over the network with a lightweight, cluster-aware operating environment that resides entirely in memory. Compute nodes can be replaced quickly and a cluster can be scaled out just by adding systems to a rack and powering them up.
- Single System Image - Less Time and Expertise required for Cluster Management
The master node is the central point of control for the entire cluster. Scyld ClusterWare only uses one set of configuration files on the master node. Compute nodes are provisioned using software images on the master and libraries and device drives are loaded as needed. This design eliminates the possibility of version and configuration inconsistencies.
- One Process Space for the Entire Cluster - Complete Process Visibility and Control at all Times
Scyld ClusterWare aggregates process information from all compute nodes and propagates process control signals from the master node to the respective compute node(s). This unified process space gives the cluster the appearance of a single SMP system. Distributed processes as well as single system processes are started on the master node and are automatically migrated to the least loaded compute nodes. Distributed applications that require the presence of remote startup services are also supported.
The combination of a single process space and dynamic process migration means that a direct login into a Scyld ClusterWare compute node is never required. Managing processes in the cluster is as easy as managing processes on a single system.
- Directory Services - Seamless Integration with Existing Infrastructures
Scyld ClusterWare combines cluster specific user- and host name resolution services with generic directory services. The resolution of cluster internal names is handled efficiently while the resolution of external host or user names can be passed on to global directory services such as NIS+ or LDAP. Integration of directory services with Scyld ClusterWare requires client access only from the master node.
The combination of cluster specific and generic directory services makes it easy to integrate Scyld ClusterWare with existing infrastructures.
- Integrated Workload Management - Optimized Resource Utilization
In almost every HPC environment, multiple users compete for computational resources. Resource managers in conjunction with schedulers arbitrate resource demand and supply. The scheduler starts jobs under consideration of configured resource allocation policies and the current load situation as reported by the resource manager. The Torque resource manager and scheduler is pre-configured with Scyld ClusterWare; other schedulers, such as Sun's Grid Engine are fully supported. For advanced scheduling needs Penguin Computing offers the scheduler Moab Cluster Suite.
- Standards-based - Runs on Commodity Hardware, Supports Standard Linux Distributions
Scyld ClusterWare runs on any system based on the x86-64 processor architecture. Scyld ClusterWare is layered on top of a standard Linux distribution, typically RedHat Enterprise Linux or CentOS and is package based (RPMs). Upgrades are generally as easy as executing a single command. Scyld also supports ‘hybrid’ clusters that comprise native ‘lightweight’ Scyld compute nodes in conjunction with compute nodes that run a different operating system installed to a local hard drive, for example SuSE Enterprise Linux.
- Commercial Support - Get Help from the Experts
Scyld ClusterWare was developed in-house is supported by Penguin Computing's cluster experts. We have worked closely with many application providers and customers. Expertise down to the source code level is always at hand.