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PCSF - A PC based simulation facility running Windows NT

PCSF - A PC based simulation facility running Windows NT. Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP. Overview. Configuration & pictures Applications Data access Specific work & solutions Key issues Conclusions. People involved.

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PCSF - A PC based simulation facility running Windows NT

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  1. PCSF - A PC based simulation facility running Windows NT Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  2. Overview • Configuration & pictures • Applications • Data access • Specific work & solutions • Key issues • Conclusions Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  3. People involved • A. Baran, J.P. Baud, C. Boissat, N. Buncic, J. Bunn, C. Charbonnier, F.Collin, V. Dore, V. Faine, S. Jarp, I. McLaren, S. O’Neale, A. Pfeiffer, H. Tang, A. Simmins, C. Von Praun, J. Wessels, R. Yaari • and all those that I forgot to mention ... Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  4. Goals • Make PC+NT a standard option for Physics Data Processing, starting with simulation • Establish a minimum management model for NT farm management • Address scalability issues • Gain Windows NT experience Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  5. Milestones • Joined RD47 in Autumn 96 • Price inquiry issued in 12/96 • Hardware delivered 4/97 • Ready to use 6/97 • RD47 report 10/97 • Expansion 5/98 Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  6. Configuration (1) • Server running NT 4.0 Server SP3 • 1 dual capable Ppro @ 200 MHz, 96 MB, with 9 GB data disk (with mirroring). LSF central queues. • Server running NT Terminal Server Beta 2 • 1 dual Ppro @ 200 MHz, 128 MB, with 4 GB data disk. Runs IIS 3.0 and is accessible from outside CERN. It also host the asp’s for Web access • Servers running NT 4.0 Workstation SP3 • 9 dual Ppro’s @ 200 MHz, 64 MB, 2*4GB • 25 dual PII’s @ 300 MHz, 128 MB, 2*4GB All equipped with boot proms Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  7. Configuration (2) • Machines interconnected with 4 3com 3000 100BaseT switch • Display/Keyboard/Mouse connected to a Raritan multiplexor • PC Duo for remote admin access  There were problems with other products • All running LSF 3.0.  LSF 3.2 does not work, support weak • Completely integrated with NICE Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  8. Racking evolution 1998 1997 Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  9. Applications • ATLAS Dice simulation • NA45 1996 reconstruction • CMS reconstruction with Objectivity being tested • LHCB simulation code ready • ATLAS reconstruction being ported • ATLAS/Marseille event filter prototype scalability tests (see poster) Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  10. Unix RFIO Server Unix RFIO Server Unix RFIO Server Unix RFIO Server Network NT PC NT PC NT PC NT PC NT PC NT PC Data access RFIO Unix Tape Server stagexxx commands Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  11. PCSF Usage Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  12. Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  13. Specific work so far • Installation (Remote Boot, Winstall, NICE replica’s, Install Server) • User codes, CERNLIB, SHIFT • Job Starter • PC MGR • WNTS • Web Interface Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  14. Installation • Disk cloning + change SID  Fastest method, but not very automated • Remote boot • Remote boot install procedures with virtual disk • Use unattended setup, installs Winstall and other things • Third party packages installed through Winstall  boot prom support on some hardware Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  15. Porting • Usually porting code from Unix to NT is easy (NA45 code ported in 1 week) • Usually porting production environment from Unix to NT is difficult (shell scripts) • Porting build environment is difficult, better to use native tools (Dev Studio)  Mixing Unix and NT build environment, revision control, etc. Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  16. Jobstarter • Initially inherited from Unix LSF CERN JobStarter • Rewritten in C++, using PcMgrSvc for drive mapping • Check execution preconditions • Clean up normal and abnormal job end • Kill popup dialog windows  Excel & Winzip in batch Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  17. PcMgrSvc/Ctl • Checks • Status of monitored processes/services • Amount of scratch space • Drive mapping(s) • Map/Unmap drives • Sync. with time servers • Generate alarms on request • Gets all parameters from registry Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  18. Web Interface • As a solution to • Remote access from outside CERN • Access from non NT hosts • Implemented as ASP’s with VB • Requires IIS on the server Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  19. Web Interface - Overview Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  20. Windows NT Terminal Server Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  21. Key Issues • AFS access • LSF support • Boot proms, equipment interoperability • CODE reintegration (Physics & CERNLIB) • Think Windows • Scalability & Management (home grown solution vs. commercial apps.) Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  22. Next Steps • Finish and understand remote boot issues • Complete remote boot - remote install • AFS Integration • Build up resilience • Investigate how to use the new WfM, DMI, PXE, ACPI, etc. initiatives • Investigate whether WSH is an alternative • Investigate NT’s I/O capabilities Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

  23. Conclusions • PC+NT has proven to work in batch environment, and is now an option for Physics Data Processing • Farm management is less of a concern after have built a few tools (alternatives would be to use SMS or TNG), but some work is still needed • Scalability has started to be addressed, but the relatively small number of nodes does not help here • Considerable NT experience has been gained Frédéric Hemmer CERN-IT/PDP

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