Cluster Resources has announced that their Moab Cluster Suite software passed compatibility tests on PSSC Lab's PowerWulf Linux clusters, offering a seamless solution for optimizing cluster workload management and return on investment.

PSSC Labs' Beowulf Linux clusters, known as PowerWulf, are made to order, offering various options for configuration and capacity. Customers can choose between AMD and Intel processors of varying speeds for both compute and head nodes. Choices for Linux-based operating systems, RAM, hard drives and many other components are included in the custom configuration process. PSSC Labs also provides full hardware and software support free for the life of the cluster. Adding Moab Cluster Suite's intelligent scheduling capability and full tech support to PSSC's custom hardware and software package can increase resource utilization to 90-99 percent, creating a highly efficient system designed to optimize performance in any computing environment.

“PSSC Lab's PowerWulf Linux clusters are the perfect solution for end users in need of an optimized and fully supported solution,” said Alex Lesser, PSSC Labs vice president. “PSSC Labs' Complete Beowulf Software Toolkit (CBeST) includes a myriad of tools cluster users need to focus on their work and not on managing a cluster. Cluster Resources' Moab software seamlessly integrates with CBeST to further enhance the CBeST feature set.”

Running Moab Cluster Suite on PSSC's software stack optimizes utilization by integrating information generated by the resource manager and various hardware monitors into one graphical interface. Moab uses that information to intelligently schedule jobs to optimize total system usage. Moab also gives administrators the power to manually change reservations and scheduling priorities as needed from a remote location.

“Moab Cluster Suite creates a computing environment where the system basically takes care of itself,” said Nick Ihli, Technical Marketing Manager of Cluster Resources. “Instead of using basic FIFO scheduling, Moab looks for the best fit between processor availability and job requirements. By doing this, Moab can increase utilization up to 99 percent, while still being flexible enough for administrators to make any necessary adjustments.”

PSSC Labs' technicians customize their cluster middleware package, CBeST, before shipping. The software package combines best-of-breed open source software, such as TORQUE, Ganglia and System Imager, with an optimized kernel, custom scripts, custom settings, hard drive partitioning, message passing software and more. Moab seamlessly integrates with CBeST's tool set. For instance, Moab works with TORQUE to provide intelligent scheduling, integrates with Ganglia to create advanced graphical systems reports, and automates System Imager's provisioning based upon reservations or per job requirements.

“Our goal is to give our customers the most efficient, easy-to-use and cost-effective supercomputer possible,” Lesser said. “We have a full staff of Linux experts ready to answer any question. In addition, we provide a simple yet comprehensive user manual for the CBeST software. This manual includes everything from installation and customization instructions to trouble-shooting tips for every level of user or administrator. Moab makes our easy-to-use system even easier to manage.”

The combination of PowerWulf and Moab provides a fully-supported hardware and software solution to maximize return on investment.