This section introduces some general information
about logging in, configuring, and using the HP XC environment.
LVS |
 |
The HP XC system uses the Linux Virtual
Server (LVS) to present a single host name for user logins. LVS is a highly scalable virtual
server built on a system of real servers. By using LVS, the architecture
of the HP XC system is transparent to end users, and they
see only a single virtual server. This eliminates the need for users
to know how the system is configured in order to successfully log
in and use the system. Any changes in the system configuration are
transparent to end users. LVS also provides load balancing across
login nodes, which distributes login requests to different servers.
Modules |
|
The HP XC system provides the Modules Package
(not to be confused with Linux kernel modules) to configure and modify
the user environment. The Modules Package enables dynamic modification
of a user’s environment by means of modulefiles. Modulefiles
provide a convenient means for users to tailor their working environment
as necessary. One of the key features of modules is to allow multiple
versions of the same software to be used in a controlled manner.
A modulefile contains information
to configure the shell for an application. Typically, a modulefile
contains instructions that alter or set shell environment variables,
such as PATH and MANPATH, to
enable access to various installed software. Many users on a system
can share modulefiles, and users may have their own collection to
supplement or replace the shared modulefiles.
Modulefiles can be loaded into the your environment
automatically when you log in to the system, or any time you need
to alter the environment. The HP XC system does not preload
modulefiles.
See Chapter 3 “Configuring Your Environment with Modulefiles” for more information.
Commands |
|
The HP XC user environment includes standard
Linux commands, LSF commands, SLURM commands, HP-MPI
commands, and modules commands. This section provides a brief overview
of these command sets.
- Linux commands
You can use standard Linux
user commands and tools on the HP XC system. Standard Linux
commands are not described in this document, but you can access Linux
command descriptions in Linux documentation and manpages. Run the
Linux man command with the Linux command name to
display the corresponding manpage.
- LSF commands
HP XC supports LSF-HPC and
the use of standard LSF commands, some of which
operate differently in the HP XC environment from standard
LSF behavior. The use of LSF-HPC commands in the HP XC environment
is described in Chapter 10 “Using LSF-HPC”, and in the HP XC lsf_diff manpage. Information about standard LSF commands
is available in Platform Computing Corporation LSF documentation,
and in the LSF manpages. For your convenience, the HP XC Documentation
CD contains XC LSF manuals
from Platform Computing. LSF manpages are available on the HP XC system.
- SLURM commands
HP XC uses the Simple
Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) for system resource
management and job scheduling. Standard SLURM commands are available
through the command line. SLURM functionality is described in Chapter 9 “Using SLURM”. Descriptions of SLURM commands are available
in the SLURM manpages. Invoke the man command with
the SLURM command name to access them.
- HP-MPI
commands
You can run standard HP-MPI commands from the command line. Descriptions of HP-MPI
commands are available in the HP-MPI documentation, which
is supplied with the HP XC system software.
- Modules commands
The HP XC system
uses standard Modules commands to load and unload modulefiles, which
are used to configure and modify the user environment. Modules commands
are described in “Overview of Modules”.
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