PelicanHPC

PelicanHPC is a free and open-source operating system derived from the award-winning Debian GNU/Linux distribution and designed from the ground up to provides users with an unique solution for deploying a dedicated high performance computing cluster.

Available for download as a Live DVD ISO image

The operating system can be downloaded via Softoware or directly from the project’s official website as a single, dual-arch Live ISO image that fits onto a CD disc or a USB thumb drive of 1GB or higher capacity.

It comes with the ability to try the operating system without installing it

From the boot menu, the user can start the live environment with default boot options or in safe graphics mode, using the failsafe option, perform a memory diagnostic test, as well as to access a help screen with detailed information about how to add extra kernel parameters.

Requires some advanced configuration

After booting the live system, you’ll arrive at a setup screen, in text-mode, from where you can configure various parameters. For example, it will ask you want it to copy user configuration files and examples to /home/user. Then, you must type in an initial password for the default “user” account, which will be used to log in at the end of the configuration process.

Cluster can be created with a minimum effort

Once logged in, you will be able to create your first cluster, simply by typing the “pelican_setup” command and pressing the Enter key. To start a graphical desktop environment, type the “startx” command (without quotes, of course).

Xfce is the default graphical environment

It appears that Xfce is the default graphical environment of PelicanHPC. It uses a traditional layout comprised of a single panel located on the bottom edge of the screen, from where the user can navigate the main menu and launch applications, as well as to interact with running programs and cycle between virtual workspaces.

What is new in this release:

• Based on the current Debian stable release "Wheezy".

What is new in version 4.0:

• Based on the current Debian stable release "Wheezy".

What is new in version 3.1 / 4.0 Testing:

• Based on the current Debian stable release "Wheezy".

What is new in version 3.1:

• Based on the current Debian stable release "Wheezy".

What is new in version 3.0:

• Based on the current Debian stable release "Wheezy".

What is new in version 2.9:

• Octave 3.6.3, dynare 4.3.1, some updates to the econometrics stuff, and also the usual sync to Debian. This release is mainly to incorporate package updates from Debian. A note: PelicanHPC is based on Debian stable (squeeze), and is made using live-build v2.x. Before too long, the testing version of Debian (wheezy) will become stable. To make live images with wheezy, you need to use live-build v3.x. The build script for PelicanHPC will need to be adapted to use live-build 3.x. I doubt that I will have time/interest to do that, so if anyone would like to take on the job, feel free to go for it.

What is new in version 2.8:

• Octave 3.6.2, dynare 4.3.0, new example code for estimation of nonlinear DSGE model (go to /home/user/Econometrics/MyOctaveFiles/Econometrics/IL/DSGE and execute ./runme), also the usual sync to Debian. You can dd the image onto USB storage to have bootable media, or you can boot the image with virtualization software.

What is new in version 2.7:

• This is a fairly minor update. Octave 3.6.0, dynare 3.4.2, and pelicanhpc.pdf is on the desktop. Other than these changes, the rest is just a sync with Debian.

What is new in version 2.3.2:

• building a modified version while running PelicanHPC
• running a permanent cluster using the pelican_config scheme.

What is new in version 2.2:

• ~/pelican_config file to allow for persistence, customization and headless boot. People interested in doing serious work with PelicanHPC are encouraged to examine this self-documented file
• autodetection of persistent frontend home
• autodetection of frontend and node local scratch space
• ability to run local scripts post boot and setup
• node beep after boot
• firewall
• automated node booting using wake-on-lan
• configuration of slots and optional frontend inclusion for mpi
• ganglia
• static IP assignment configurable using MAC addresses.
• node startup/shutdown script
• possibility to serve DHCP to machines that are not compute nodes
• python frontend for mpi software included (mpi4py)
• can now build PelicanHPC on PelicanHPC, using live-build
• added a couple of text editors, joe and nano

What is new in version 2.2 RC:

• ~/pelican_config file to allow for persistence, customization and headless boot
• autodetection of persistent frontend home
• autodetection of frontend and node local scratch space
• ability to run local scripts post boot and setup
• node beep after boot
• firewall
• automated node booting using wake-on-lan
• configuration of slots and optional frontend inclusion for mpi
• ganglia
• static IP assignment configurable using MAC addresses.
• node startup/shutdown script
• possibility to serve DHCP to machines that are not compute nodes
• python frontend for mpi software included (mpi4py)
• can now build PelicanHPC on PelicanHPC
• added a couple of text editors, joe and nano

What is new in version 2.0:

• based on Debian testing (squeeze) instead of stable (lenny). This means that most packages have newer versions. In particular, the kernel is at 2.6.30 and Open MPI is at 1.3.3.
• has new MPI bindings for GNU Octave, developed mostly by R. Corradini, building off MPITB. The new MPI bindings allow use of Octave 3.2.x instead of 3.0.x, which gives some important performance gains. The new bindings are less complete than MPITB, but they provide all MPI calls used in the examples for GNU Octave. The Monte Carlo and kernel examples have been adapted to use these new bindings, the other examples of MPI usage within Octave still need to be updated.
• Open MPI is now the only MPI implementation installed.
• the Ganglia monitoring system is installed and pre-configured for up to 4 hosts. It is easy to add entries for larger clusters. Visit http://localhost/ganglia after having set up the cluster (pelican_setup). The ksysguard monitor is still available, too.

What is new in version 1.8:

• The make_pelican script supports USB disk image as well as ISO;
• added dialogs for setting password and allowing use of permanent storage;
• add binary blobs for closed-source network cards;
• add locales, console-common and packages for mail;
• add a couple of symbolic links to support software compiled using older versions of OpenMPI;
• tutorial updated.