The IBM Scalable POWERparallel System 2 (SP2) is a distributed memory multiprocessor consisting of a collection of RS6000 workstation nodes (running the AIX/6000 operating system) together with a high performance switch (HPS) providing communication between the nodes.
In an effort to provide NIST researchers with a centralized source of documentation and programming aids, the author has provided an in-depth primer to programming on the NIST SP2 and several utilities which are available for use on the SP2.
Caption: A primer for users of the NIST SP2 system.
Regardless of interface style, the user is prompted for information about the communication library used (PVMe, MPL, or Oak Ridge PVM), the style of their program (SPMD or MPMD), arguments or input required, batch class and number of processors, and whether a custom setup or cleanup script is required. When the "Create *.cmd File" button is pressed in xllcreate, a command file is generated based on the input information. This facility eliminates the need for novice users of the SP2 to become experts in writing remote parallel environment scripts before actively using the SP2. Also, since centralized scripts are used for running batch jobs under X-llcreate, any system changes which require changes to batch scripts can be incorporated once by a system expert, and anyone using the utility will automatically use the revised scripts. This allows users to get up and running more quickly after system upgrades and environment changes. The appearance of the X-llcreate graphical user interface is shown below.
Caption: The X-llcreate graphical user interface.
Ongoing efforts include keeping the Primer current by documenting system changes, and making any necessary changes to the provided utilities after system upgrades. Additional utilities may be provided as needed.