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Preface Introduction to Distributed Processing 7
 Apple Qmaster cluster, which contains:
 Service nodes: The computers that perform the processing of batches submitted
via Compressor or Apple Qmaster. A batch can include one or more jobs.
 Cluster controller: The software, enabled on a computer by means of the
Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences, that divides up batches, determines
which service nodes to send work to, and generally tracks and directs the processes.
The client computer, the service nodes, and the cluster controller are often on separate
(but network-connected) computers, for the most rapid processing potential. However,
the cluster controller could be on a client computer or a service node. See “Using One
Computer to Serve Two Distributed Processing Roles” on page 22 for more information
on this scenario.
Following is a closer look at the part each component plays in the Apple Qmaster system.
Clients
Batches are submitted for distributed processing from the client computers . A client
computer can be any computer that has Compressor or Apple Qmaster installed and is
on the same network (subnet) as the cluster controller. Multiple client computers can be
on the same subnet, using the same cluster to do the processing for various applications.
You use Compressor or the Apple Qmaster application to submit batches to be
processed for a client. See the Compressor User Manual and the Apple Qmaster
User Manual for details on using these applications.
Cluster controller manages the
distribution of client’s jobs across the cluster
Service node
processes jobs
Cluster
(can contain multiple service nodes, but only one cluster controller)
Client computer from
which users send jobs to the cluster
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs