HPC Cluster Administration with xCAT

NHR Tutorial (Online - Course language: German)

Tuesday, 12/06/2022, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Speaker: Markus Hilger and Peter Großöhme (MEGWARE)

Setting up and administering an HPC cluster requires special software. xCAT is an open-source tool that allows HPC admins to configure any type of cluster as quickly and easily as possible. In addition, xCAT offers other tools that support administrators in their daily work. In this course, the participants will learn how to use xCAT and will set up a VM-based test environment to familiarize themselves with the individual functions.

Agenda

• xCAT introduction (versions, features, architecture, database, services)
• Management node preparation
• Management Node xCAT configuration
• Hierarchy with service nodes
• Definition of objects (groups, compute nodes, switches, PDUs)
• hardware discovery
• Stateless/Stateful os images
• node installation
• Useful Commands (with Hands-On)
• Useful Tables (with Hands-On)

Handouts

The course material (slides) will be made available to the class participants.

HPC-Certification Forum Links

Prerequisites

• Linux system administration knowledge (RPM based distros)
• Basic knowledge of network services such as: DHCP, DNS and NTP
• Basic knowledge of IPMI
• Basic handling of VMs for the test environment

Learning Objectives

• Understanding of xCAT functions ADM3.1.1-B xCAT

• Setting up an xCAT Management Server

• Creation of xCAT system images

• Installation of stateless  ADM1.4.1.2-B Deploy stateless images and stateful ADM1.4.1.1-B Deploy stateful images nodes

• Configuration of installed nodes using xCAT ADM1.4.1.3-B Manage cluster nodes

• Useful tips and tricks in use

Registration

Link: https://event.zih.tu-dresden.de/nhr/xcat
Participation costs: 210.50 euros

Important Note:
Only for participants from NHR centers or the associated universities and academic cooperation partners of NHR centers.
Participation is subject to a fee and your registration is binding.
You will receive an invoice after successful registration.
The course will only take place if there is a minimum number of participants.

Registration is closing on 10/21/2022. The NHR tutorial is limited to 14 participants.
You will receive the access data shortly before the event by email to your registered email address.

Further Information

Course language: German

Target group: HPC Admin

If you have any further questions, please contact Anja Gerbes ().