Supported Topologies

HPCS supports five different cluster topologies. Each topology has implications for performance and accessibility. The topologies involve up to three different networks: public, private, and MPI. In most cases, NAT (using RRAS) is automatically installed on the head node.

Figure 2-1 shows a head node on a public and private network with compute nodes on the private network only. This topology is referred to as Two-Network Topology and is supported by HP Cluster Platform and HP Cluster Platform Express. See Figure 2-6.

Figure 2-1 Topology 1

Figure 2-2 shows all nodes on a public and private network.

Figure 2-2 Topology 2

Figure 2-3 shows the head node on a public and private network with the compute nodes on the private network only with a second private network for MPI. This topology is referred to as Three-Network Topology and is supported by HP Cluster Platform and HP Cluster Platform Express. See Figure 2-7.

Figure 2-3 Topology 3

Figure 2-4 shows all nodes on a public and private network with a second private network for MPI.

Figure 2-4 Topology 4

Figure 2-5 shows all nodes on a public network only.

Figure 2-5 Topology 5

Only two of the five topologies previously shown map to HP Cluster Platform topologies. Figure 2-6 shows the simplest topology, based on in-band (shared) use of the HP ProCurve switch as the MPI fabric. The same network provides routing for cluster administrative and job management traffic. A second network is provided through the site LAN connection.

Figure 2-6 Two-Network Topology

The following cluster features are shown in Figure 2-6:

Figure 2-7 shows a topology based on a dedicated MPI fabric. This might be built around Gigabit Ethernet or InfiniBand. A second Ethernet network provides routing for cluster administrative, and job management traffic. A third network is provided through the site LAN connection.

Figure 2-7 Three-Network Topology

The following cluster features are shown in Figure 2-7: