A.2. Configuration

A.2.1. How do I remove a compute node from the cluster?
A.2.2. Why doesn't startx work on the frontend machine?
A.2.3. I can't install compute nodes and I have a Dell Powerconnect 5224 network switch, what can I do?
A.2.4. How do I export a new directory from the frontend to all the compute nodes that is accessible under /home?
A.2.5. How do I disable the feature that reinstalls compute nodes after a hard reboot?

A.2.1. How do I remove a compute node from the cluster?

On your frontend end, execute:

# rocks remove host "[your compute node name]"

For example, if the compute node's name is compute-0-1, you'd execute:

# rocks remove host compute-0-1
# rocks sync config

The compute node has been removed from the cluster.

A.2.2. Why doesn't startx work on the frontend machine?

Before you can run startx you need to configure XFree86 for your video card. This is done just like on standard Red Hat machines using the system-config-display program. If you do not know anything about your video card just select "4MB" of video RAM and 16 bit color 800x600. This video mode should work on any modern VGA card.

A.2.3. I can't install compute nodes and I have a Dell Powerconnect 5224 network switch, what can I do?

Here's how to configure your Dell Powerconnect 5224:

You need to set the edge port flag for all ports (in some Dell switches is labeled as fast link).

First, you'll need to set up an IP address on the switch:

  • Plug in the serial cable that came with the switch.

  • Connect to the switch over the serial cable.

    The username/password is: admin/admin.

  • Assign the switch an IP address:

    # config
    # interface vlan 1
    # ip address 10.1.2.3 255.0.0.0
  • Now you should be able to access the switch via the ethernet.

  • Plug an ethernet cable into the switch and to your laptop.

  • Configure the ip address on your laptop to be:

    IP: 10.20.30.40
    netmask: 255.0.0.0
  • Point your web browser on your laptop to 10.1.2.3

  • Username/password is: admin/admin.

  • Set the edge port flag for all ports. This is found under the menu item: System->Spanning Tree->Port Settings.

  • Save the configuration.

    This is accomplished by going to System->Switch->Configuration and typing 'rocks.cfg' in the last field 'Copy Running Config to File'. In the field above it, you should see 'rocks.cfg' as the 'File Name' in the 'Start-Up Configuration File'.

A.2.4. How do I export a new directory from the frontend to all the compute nodes that is accessible under /home?

Execute this procedure:

  • Add the directory you want to export to the file /etc/exports.

    For example, if you want to export the directory /export/disk1, add the following to /etc/exports:

    /export/disk1 10.0.0.0/255.0.0.0(rw)

    Note

    This exports the directory only to nodes that are on the internal network (in the above example, the internal network is configured to be 10.0.0.0)

  • Restart NFS:

    # /etc/rc.d/init.d/nfs restart
  • Add an entry to /etc/auto.home.

    For example, say you want /export/disk1 on the frontend machine (named frontend-0) to be mounted as /home/scratch on each compute node.

    Add the following entry to /etc/auto.home:

    scratch		frontend-0:/export/disk1
  • Inform 411 of the change:

    # make -C /var/411

Now when you login to any compute node and change your directory to /home/scratch, it will be automounted.

A.2.5. How do I disable the feature that reinstalls compute nodes after a hard reboot?

When compute nodes experience a hard reboot (e.g., when the compute node is reset by pushing the power button or after a power failure), they will reformat the root file system and reinstall their base operating environment.

To disable this feature:

  • Login to the frontend

  • Create a file that will override the default:

    # cd /export/rocks/install
    # cp rocks-dist/arch/build/nodes/auto-kickstart.xml \
    site-profiles/7.0/nodes/replace-auto-kickstart.xml

    Where arch is "i386" or "x86_64".

  • Edit the file site-profiles/7.0/nodes/replace-auto-kickstart.xml

  • Remove the line:

    <package>rocks-boot-auto<package>
  • Rebuild the distribution:

    # cd /export/rocks/install
    # rocks create distro
  • Reinstall all your compute nodes

    Note

    An alternative to reinstalling all your compute nodes is to login to each compute node and execute:

    # /etc/rc.d/init.d/rocks-grub stop
    # /sbin/chkconfig --del rocks-grub