Chapter 6. OSCAR
Setting
up a cluster can involve the installation and configuration of a lot
of software as well as reconfiguration of the system and previously
installed software. OSCAR (Open Source Cluster Application
Resources) is a
software package that is designed to simplify cluster installation. A
collection of open source cluster software, OSCAR includes everything
that you are likely to need for a dedicated, high-performance
cluster. OSCAR takes you completely through the installation of your
cluster. If you download, install, and run OSCAR, you will have a
completely functioning cluster when you are done.
This chapter begins with an overview of why you might use OSCAR,
followed by a description of what is included in OSCAR. Next, the
discussion turns to the installation and configuration of OSCAR. This
includes a description of how to customize OSCAR and the changes
OSCAR makes to your system. Finally, there are three brief sections,
one on cluster security, one on switcher, and
another on using OSCAR with LAM/MPI.
Because OSCAR is an extensive collection of software, it is beyond
the scope of this book to cover every package in detail. Most of the
software in OSCAR is available as standalone versions, and many of
the key packages included by OSCAR are described in later chapters in
this book. Consequently, this chapter focuses on setting up OSCAR and
on software unique to OSCAR. By the time you have finished this
chapter, you should be able to judge whether OSCAR is appropriate for
your needs and know how to get started.
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