Discover Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters, a scalable image management tool that allows blades to run a Linux distribution over the network without a local disk. Furthermore, learn how this tool can be used for fast incremental maintenance of images.

What is Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters?

Distributed Image Management for Linux® Clusters was developed as a scalable image management tool that allows blades to run a Linux distribution over the network without a local disk. No modifications to the image are required in order to operate Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters. Changes to the image for traditional maintenance are incrementally replicated to thousands of image replicas in seconds. This tool fills a critical need not met by existing cluster management suites. Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters was first developed for use in IBM®'s MareNostrum supercomputer, Europe's most powerful, at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. It consists of 2560 IBM JS21 Blades (x4) for a total of 10240 CPUs total as a super-large Linux cluster.

Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters is also used for fast incremental maintenance of images. Changes such as new user IDs, changed passwords, or new RPMs can be replicated across a cluster of thousands of nodes in seconds. Smart incremental Linux replication tools are able to sense exactly where changes were made in the master image, regardless of the type of change. Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters is configured with keep-out directories or files in order to avoid unwanted replication from the master image to the replicas.

Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters also provides an XML file that describes the cluster network and naming taxonomy. Network IP configuration and DHCP configuration is automated from this XML file.

Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters is a cluster image management utility. It does not contain tools for cluster monitoring, event management, or remote console management. Those tools can be obtained from cluster management suites such as xCAT (which is also available here at alphaWorks®). Utilities from xCAT can complement the capabilities of Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters. xCAT provides an alternative open-source image management process called Warewulf. However, Warewulf is stateless and uses a RAM-resident root file system with a shared read-only file system. Distributed Image Management for Linux Clusters instead preserves state by managing individual read/write images for each node as well as a replicated, shared read-only file system for efficiency.

Read more at alphaworks.ibm.com...