BEgridAndQuattor
What is Quattor
Quattor is a system administration toolkit providing a powerful, portable and modular toolsuite for the automated installation, configuration and management of clusters and farms running UNIX derivates like Linux and Solaris. Thus, it does not only install packages, but also completely configures a node, and allows the central management of all the changes to this configuration. The project was started in the scope of EDG, and its development is now coordinated by the CERN. It is used at CERN to manage 1000's of machines.
- Homepage: http://quattor.org.
Quattor consists of the following subsystems:
1. CDB : Configuration Database
This central database contains the desired state of all the managed nodes. The state is described using a special language (PAN), and consists of building blocks called templates. There are several options to store this database, but BEgrid uses the 'SCDB' variant, which means that the CDB is implemented as a Subversion repository. For BEgrid, there is one central SCDB, which contains the configurations of all BEgrid clusters.
2. SWREP: Software Repositories
It contains the to be installed software packages (rpm's). There can be several repositories, e.g. for OS, for glite, ... For BEgrid, the repositories are located at http://quattor.begrid.be/begrid/Central_BEGrid_Repository
3. SPMA: Software Package Management Agent
This subsystem, which runs on the managed nodes, handles local package installation (through rpm ...).
4. NCM: Node Configuration Manager
This subsystem, also available on the managed nodes, configures/reconfigures local system and grid services using a plug-in component framework. Numerous components are available (network, ...), but one could add specific components.
5. AII: Automated Installation Infrastructure
This subsystem takes care of initial node installation by configuring the system installer (e.g. KickStart). This allows the automatic installation of the nodes, provided they can PXEboot and their configuration was stored in SCDB (i.e. a proper 'profile' has been made).
Quattor for BEgrid
Centralised BEgrid
How to join Centralised BEgrid
- The Preparations section describes required information from new BEgrid users.
- Setting up a BEgrid Quattor Client: You'll need a local BEgrid Quattor Client on your site, that will be used for installing and maintaining all your grid nodes. It will be a SL5 box, with a webserver, AII and SINDES installed. Depending on your local network setup, you'll also need a NAT box to deploy a private network for the cluster's workernodes. The provided instructions allow you to use only one physical machine for both functions (BEgrid client and NAT).
- Instructions for a XEN managed node that acts as a NAT (+ DNS) in Dom0 and as a BEgrid client in DomU
- Detailed instructions for setting up a BEGrid Client.
- Create 'profiles' for your site/cluster in SCDB
- 'Final steps'
- Test you site with these 'basic tests'
- Configure Eclipse for BEgrid trac
QWG: Quattor Working Group
The Quattor Working Group (QWG, also known as LCGQWG) is a group created by the LCG Grid Deployment Board to produce a Quattor configuration for Grid Middleware( especially the LCG ). The profiles in the BEgrid repository are based on the QWG ones. New releases by QWG will be integrated into the BEgrid repository.
- Homepage : https://trac.lal.in2p3.fr/LCGQWG
Tips and tricks
Centralised BEgrid Server setup (at BELNET)
This section is not for site admins, but describes the setup of the Centralised BEgrid server at BELNET.
- BEgrid Server setup
- Problems encounter setting up quattor.
- BEgrid Quattor Workshop notes - Leuven 05 May 2006
- Add a new OS to BEgrid quattor setup
