ClusterPack V2.5 Release Note

Comprehensive Install Instructions

manager_config is an interactive tool that configures the Management Server

based on some simple queries. Most of the queries have default values assigned and

you just need to press

RETURN to assign those default values.

Step 11. Run mp_register on the Management Server

Background

A Management Processor (MP) allows you to remotely monitor and control the state

of a Compute Node. By configuring and registering the MP cards for each Compute

Node, clbootnodes can be used to automatically answer the first boot questions for

each Compute Node.

When you telnet to an MP, you will initially access the console of the associated

server. Other options such as remote console access, power management, remote

reboot operations, and temperature monitoring are available by typing

Ctrl-B from

the console mode. It is also possible to access the MP as a web console. However,

before it is possible to access the MP remotely it is first necessary to assign an IP

address to each MP. This is normally achieved by connecting a serial console device

to the serial port on the MP and performing a series of configuration steps. This can

be quite tedious and time consuming for moderate to large clusters. To ease the

effort, mp_register can perform the configuration for you by issuing the commands

via a serial cable.

mp_register maintains a database of knowledge about the MP cards in the system.

The database is restricted to nodes that have been added to the cluster with

manager_config. Likewise, nodes removed from the cluster are removed from the

MP database. The utility is generally designed for single use when setting up the

cluster for the first time. However, it can be run multiple times to make changes to

MP designations or when nodes are added to the cluster.

NOTE It is important to note that the configuration step does not configure

accounts for the MP. By default, anyone can access the MP without a

password. Leaving the cards without configuring users is a severe

security risk. Users can freely access the card and shut down the

node or gain root access through the console. The configuration step

configures the MP for telnet or web access only to make future

modifications, such as adding users, simpler to perform.

mp_register will add each MP and associated IP address to the /etc/hosts file on

the Management Server. This file will later get propagated to the Compute Nodes.

Each MP is assigned a name during the configuration step which is also placed in