IBM: Create a working Linux cluster from many separate pieces of hardware and software, including IBM System x and IBM TotalStorage systems. This part in this multipart series covers hardware configuration, including understanding architecture, planning logical network design, setting up terminal servers, and updating firmware.

Installing a large Linux cluster, Part 1: Introduction and hardware configuration

This is the first of multiple articles that cover the installation and setup of a large Linux computer cluster. The aim of the series is to bring together in one place up-to-date information from various places in the public domain on the process required to create a working Linux cluster from many separate pieces of hardware and software. These articles are not intended, however, to provide the basis for the complete design of a new large Linux cluster. Refer to the reference materials and Redbooks under Resources for general architecture pointers.

The first two parts of this series address the base installation of the cluster and include an overview of the hardware configuration and installation using the IBM systems management software, Cluster Systems Management (CSM). The first article introduces you to the topic and takes you through hardware configuration. The second article covers management server configuration and node installation. Subsequent parts of the series deal with the storage back-end of the cluster. They cover the storage hardware configuration and the installation and configuration of the IBM shared file system, General Parallel File System (GPFS ).

This series addresses systems architects and systems engineers to use when they plan and implement a Linux cluster using the IBM eServer Cluster 1350 framework. Some parts might also be relevant to cluster administrators for educational purposes and during normal cluster operation.

Part I...

Installing a large Linux cluster, Part 2: Management server configuration and node installation

This is the second of several articles that cover the installation and setup of a large Linux computer cluster. The purpose of the series is to bring together in one place up-to-date information from various sources in the public domain about the process required to create a working Linux cluster from many separate pieces of hardware and software. These articles are not intended to provide the basis for the complete design of a new large Linux cluster; refer to the relevant reference materials and Redbooks mentioned throughout for general architecture pointers.

This series addresses systems architects and systems engineers to plan and implement a Linux cluster using the IBM eServer Cluster 1350 framework (see Resources for more information about the framework). Some parts might also be relevant to cluster administrators for educational purposes and during normal cluster operation.

Part 1 of the series provides detailed instructions on setting up the hardware for the cluster. This second part takes you through the next steps after hardware configuration: software installation using the IBM systems management software, Cluster Systems Management (CSM), and node installation.

Additional parts of the series deal with the storage back-end of the cluster. The articles will cover the storage hardware configuration and the installation and configuration of the IBM shared file system, General Parallel File System (GPFS).

Part II....