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Intel(R) Xeon Phi(tm) Coprocessor -- Cluster training - call for demand!

BelindaLiviero — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:44:40 GMT

Intel is evaluating to offer a 4 hour web-based basic tutorial covering the fundamental principles of how to integrate an Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor into a Linux based cluster.

During the course each attendant would have remote access to a Linux server and be able to do each step as shown in the outline below. The course will be given free of charge. Requirements are an Internet connection, a web browser, and Putty. We are settling on the sharing technology we will be using, and will publish that at a later date.

If you are interested in such an offer please reply to this forum thread -- you have the ability to reply privately, if you don't want to be identified.

If we have enough interest, we'll pull it together!

Topics:

Finding information on Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor on the web
Download the driver software
Unpacking the driver software package, explanation of components
Discussion on prerequisites of the compute server (for instance what software needs to be installed, reserved IP addresses, user names, network file systems)
Basic concepts (host, host OS, host kernel, coprocessor, Intel(R) MPSS stack, layout of files, boot image of the uOS, ramfs of the uOS)
Recompiling HOST kernel packages; diagnose output and understand errors (necessary to work with nonstandard kernels)
Install a minimal set of MPSS rpm packages using rpm
Create a default MPSS configuration (using “micctrl --initdefaults “)
Startup (aka boot) the coprocessor
Connect via minicom to the coprocessor (this allows one to connect to the Intel Xeon Phi coprocessor WITHOUT figuring out network problems)
modify uOS filesystem by overlaying an /etc/passwd file; reboot the coprocessor
Create a bridgded network on the host
Configure the coprocessor for bridged networking by modifying micX.conf directly
Reboot card and connect via ssh
Set up a ssh key-pair; diagnose ssh gotchas
Mount a NFS file system on the coprocessor
Configure a user known in the cluster by modifying the /etc/passwd file of the coprocessor
Group up with neighbor – run MPI benchmark natively over Ethernet
Recompile the MPSS OFED package to support a nonstandard kernel on the HOST
Install MPSS-OFED rpms
Start OFED on the coprocessor
Group up with neighbor – run MPI benchmark natively over InfiniBand
Create a minimal startup script wrapping everything up; this startup script can be used by a batch scheduling system to restart a coprocessor on behalf of a user before running a job.
Where to find more resources or ask questions

In future (advanced) courses we might want to talk about topics like:

Change micX.conf configuration to adopt to diskless clients
The tools (micinfo, micrasd, ….)
Logging – syslog, sar (how to enable logging, typical output and problems to look out for)
cron: maintenance log rotation, detect issues like missing daemons, problems
Adding more programs/libraries/files to the coprocessors (including pros and cons)
Troubleshooting startups/shutdowns
Upgrading the MPSS stack on an established installation
Diagnose system and coprocessor health
Customizing installation scripts

This sounds very interesting.

Vadim_Karpusenko — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:47:46 GMT

This sounds very interesting. Please, count me in.

Vadim Karpusenko <vadim@colfax-intl.com>

Yes, thanks. I'm interested.

Gethin_W_ — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 15:59:25 GMT

Yes, thanks. I'm interested.

I'm also interested. thanks

yectli_h_ — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:48:35 GMT

I'm also interested. thanks

I'm very interested.

Vishal1 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:10:31 GMT

I'm very interested.

I'm interested.

Vitaly_V__K_ — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:31:03 GMT

I'm interested.

Yes, please. I'm interested.

Ole_Saastad — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 13:50:44 GMT

Yes, please. I'm interested.

Oh boy. That would be a dream

Girish_Nair — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:10:18 GMT

Oh boy. That would be a dream come true. Very excited. A big YES.

I would be interested ...

drMikeT — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:45:49 GMT

I would be interested ...

Michael

Very interested, thanks! Tod

Tod_M_Intel — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:02:09 GMT

Very interested, thanks!

Tod

Count me in. Very interested.

Giorgis_G_ — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 16:23:24 GMT

Count me in. Very interested.

Giorgis

I am extremely interested!

Carlos_Alexandre_T_ — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:53:43 GMT

I am extremely interested! Thanks!

Thank you for registering

BelindaLiviero — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 00:58:37 GMT

Thank you for registering your interest -- we are still planning on this - the timing of the sessions is likely to start in ~May.

One question I must ask is somewhat logistical: the best 'webinar' tool that we have used at Intel in the past is one that supports access from Microsoft* Windows, iOS, or Android clients but not Linux (more here: http://support.citrixonline.com/webinar/all_files/G2W010003 )

Will this be a big problem for you folks? Do all of you have one of the supported types of systems from which you can connect?

I am interested in this

VIKRANT_G_ — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 21:49:25 GMT

I am interested in this

I'm very interested attending

Georg_G_ — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:10:42 GMT

I'm very interested attending this course.

Georg

Yes, I am very interested too

ekiefner — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:27:35 GMT

Yes, I am very interested too to join this Web training about INtel MIC and Linux Cluster.

Erhard

All,

BelindaLiviero — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:50:14 GMT

All,

You are receiving this message if you’ve indicated to us in the past that you’d be interested in training on cluster administration with large installations of Intel® Xeon Phi™ Coprocessors.

Starting this May, Intel will lead 4-hour webinars, with some hands-on exercises, on Basic Cluster administration with Intel Xeon Phi Coprocessors.

There is an 18 person limit on webinar attendance because it is hands-on. Attendees who register will receive notification within a few days to confirm registration.

Where and When: Three webinar sessions are available now, and more will be scheduled throughout the summer depending on demand.

Monday, May 12, 2014 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM PDT Register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/909192649 (very limited seating)

Wednesday, May 14 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT Register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/822739432

Wednesday, May 21 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT Register at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/899481456

Agenda: In this course led by an instructor the attendants will learn how to integrate Xeon Phi coprocessors into a cluster. The session will include:

Discussion on prerequisites of the compute server (for instance what software needs to be installed, reserved IP addresses, user names, network file systems)
Unpacking the driver software package, explanation of components
Basic concepts (host, host OS, host kernel, coprocessor, MPSS stack, layout of MPSS files, boot image of the uOS, ramfs of the uOS)
Recompiling HOST kernel packages; diagnose output and understand errors (necessary to work with nonstandard kernels)
Install a minimal set of MPSS rpm packages using rpm
Create a default MPSS configuration (using “micctrl --initdefaults “)
Startup (aka boot) the coprocessor
Connect via minicom to the coprocessor (this allows one to connect to the Xeon Phi WITHOUT figuring out network problems)
modify uOS filesystem by overlaying an /etc/passwd file
Create a bridgded network on the host
Configure the coprocessor for bridged networking by modifying micX.conf directly
Reboot card and connect via ssh
Set up a ssh key-pair; diagnose ssh gotchas
Mount a NFS file system on the coprocessor
Configure a user known in the cluster by modifying the /etc/passwd file of the coprocessor
Group up with neighbor – run MPI benchmark natively over Ethernet
Recompile the MPSS OFED package to support a nonstandard kernel on the HOST
Install MPSS-OFED rpms
Start OFED on the coprocessor
Group up with neighbor – run MPI benchmark natively over InfiniBand
Create a minimal startup script wrapping everything up; this startup script can be used by a batch scheduling system to restart a coprocessor on behalf of a user before running a job.
Where to find more resources or ask questions

Each attendant will connect via ssh to a cluster, and be able to run all necessary commands alongside the presentation.

space is still available on

BelindaLiviero — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 05:00:26 GMT

space is still available on the May 14 webinar -- otherwise most other dates are full!

Please let us know if more sessions are needed

I joined this forum some days

ashish_s_ — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 10:37:58 GMT

I joined this forum some days back. I want to attend Intel Phi cluster trainings again. Can you share presentation of those webinars or provide information on any scheduled training on the same in future?

Thanks,

Ashish K Singh

This sounds very interesting.

Alfonso_P_ — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 11:19:00 GMT

I' am interested for the slides/presentation too.