--------------------------------- Instructions to use kernel_picker --------------------------------- Kernel_picker allows for the mass installation of the Palacios VMM to compute nodes designated while using open source cluster application resources (OSCAR). This allows for ease when needing to deploy Palacios among several nodes. Prerequisites for kernel_picker: 1. Palacios must already be compiled with a target of Linux as a module. This includes both the user level tools and the kernel module. 2. The linux distribution being used is one compatible with OSCAR. This includes: RHEL 5/CentOS 5 (x86/x86_64), Debian 5 x86_64, and Ubuntu 10.04 x86_64. 3. A custom linux kernel has been compiled that meets the prerequisistes for Palacios. This includes having the memory hot swappable options enabled. Make sure this kernel also supports the hardware on your compute nodes! Steps to use kernel_picker 1. The first step is to download OSCAR which can be accomplished by using an On-line OSCAR Repository for the distribution. Explicite instructions on how to set this up can be viewed at: http://svn.oscar.openclustergroup.org/trac/oscar/wiki/InstallGuidePreparing#Repositories under section 3.3.1 for CentOS/RHEL based systems and 3.3.2 for Debian and Ubuntu based systems. 2. Proceed to issue the command: # oscar-config --setup-distro -- (e.g., oscar-config --setup-distro debian-5-x86_64) 3. By following the steps listed in Chapter 5: http://svn.oscar.openclustergroup.org/trac/oscar/wiki/InstallGuideClusterInstall to begin the install/usage of OSCAR. 4. There are various steps while using OSCAR. During Step 4 (Build OSCAR Client Image), OSCAR will present several options to the user such as an image name, target distribution, etc. During this phase, make note of the image name you use when creaing the image for your compute nodes. The image name will be used in the next step when using kernel_picker. 5. After you've made your image, then you can proceed open a new terminal to use kernel_picker and choose a kernel appropriate for your compute nodes. To use kernel_picker issue the command: # kernel_picker.pl --oscarimage oscarimage \ --bootkernel /usr/src/linux/vmlinuz-2.6.32 \ --bootlabel Palacios VMM \ --bootramdisk yes \ --kernelversion 2.6.32 \ --modulespath /lib/modules/2.6.32 \ --palacios The --oscarimage option specifies which image to modify as multiple images can be created in OSCAR. This is useful as some nodes within your cluster may not be able to support Palacios and can make use of a different image. The --bootkernel option indicates the full path to the kernel. This allows kernel_picker to copy the correct kernel to the image. The --bootlabel option gives a label for the grub entry on the compute node. The --bootramdisk option informs kernel_picker if a ramdisk needs to be created for the image with the associated kernel. The --kernelversion option gives kernel_picker the ability to create the boot ramdisk without issue. The --modulespath option is the path to where the modules are installed for the kernel to be used by the compute nodes. The --palacios option indicates to kernel_picker that Palacios is to be used with this image. This invokes a sanity check on the kernel to be used to insure that it can be used with Palacios. It then copies all of the user-level tools to the /usr/bin/ directory within the image. Afterward it modifies the /etc/rc.local file within the image to load the Palacios kernel module at boot time. 6. Finish the OSCAR install by defining your compute nodes and finally booting them. See the link below for more information. http://svn.oscar.openclustergroup.org/trac/oscar/wiki/InstallGuideClusterInstall # $Id: instructions-for-kernel-picker.txt 56 2012-03-10 00:24:11Z tjn $