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Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical Desktops( was RE: Yet another odd problem . . .)
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From: Kumar, S. <shr...@hp...> - 2010-05-18 05:51:20
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Ah ! 1 point to Manju and Glenn who wanted this functionality earlier. If only I had included this generic functionality. For now, I will consider this as a feature request.
That brings us to what we can do in the current circumstances. Not using all the GPUs in not an option in your case, since it triggers the console keyboard problem.
Here is one solution :
- Create two tiled displays :
- first one with two GPUs with dual monitor blocks, and a keyboard and mouse (lets call this "node-LEFT")
- one with two GPUs and single monitor blocks (lets call this "node-RIGHT")
- Create another script based on "viz-desktop". This script will
- Allocate two tiled displays (as opposed to one right now)
- Reconfigure the X servers on the tiled display such that the single X server controls all the GPUs
- during this, we have to ensure that the left bezel is included for the displays on "node-RIGHT"
- Start the desktop
I am hoping that this will look like a natural solution to your end users. You will retain the ability to switch resolutions as a command line option.
Let me know if you want to go with this. Do I remember right that you are comfortable with a small amount of python programming ?
Cheers
-- Shree
-----Original Message-----
From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 7:34 AM
To: viz...@li...
Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical Desktops( was RE: Yet another odd problem . . .)
Would there be a config using all the GPUs that I could set up? We've only got six monitors, but four dual-port GPUs - unless we could use a heterogenous mix of blocks (two GPUs with dual-monitor blocks, and two with single-monitor blocks) I don't see how we could use all of them.
Simon
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kumar, Shree [mailto:shr...@hp...]
> Sent: Monday, 17 May 2010 6:33 PM
> To: viz...@li...
> Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical Desktops(
> was RE: Yet another odd problem . . .)
>
>
> Ok. Hopefully I understand better now. Bear with me for a
> little while more while I try to figure out what can be done
> - and isn't too intrusive.
>
> Since there is only a single user on the system, you could
> configure a tiled display that uses up all the GPU on the
> node. With this, the user can login into the console and use
> "viz-desktop" to start the desktop session. Since the X
> server uses all GPUs, VizStack should now start the X server
> and switch the VT. This should work for you - does it not ?
>
> I tested this myself an hour ago on a server equipped with 2
> GPUs - Ubuntu 9.10 x86_64. Note that you will need to include
> all GPUs in the tiled display for this to work. This approach
> also doesn't need disabling of the gettys.
>
> -- Shree
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
> Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 12:11 PM
> To: viz...@li...
> Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical Desktops(
> was RE: Yet another odd problem . . .)
>
> VizStack has actually been far easier to get working than a
> straight X configuration on this system, and it allows us to
> subdivide the display very easily - much more easily than
> running from gdm. It also gives us a simple path to scale up
> to larger systems that won't run from a single display node
> (which is something we expect to have to build in the future).
>
> Also, switching from hidden pixels behind bezels to no hidden
> pixels would require switching around X configs with gdm,
> whereas with vizstack it's a simple command line option.
>
> So VizStack basically just makes a range of things we want to
> do quite simple - we could probably do them manually, or
> write our own automation scripts to handle it, but it would
> be a lot harder to manage . . . That's why ideally we'd be
> able to run a viz-desktop session from a console login - it's
> the simplest way to get at the flexibility on offer through VizStack.
>
> Simon
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Kumar, Shree [mailto:shr...@hp...]
> > Sent: Monday, 17 May 2010 4:28 PM
> > To: viz...@li...
> > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical
> Desktops( was RE:
> > Yet another odd problem . . .)
> >
> >
> > If you just run gdm (with an appropriate X config file),
> would that be
> > sufficient for your purposes ?
> >
> > You could configure gdm using PAM to use the same kerberos
> > authentication.
> >
> > -- Shree
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
> > Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 11:45 AM
> > To: viz...@li...
> > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical
> Desktops( was RE:
> > Yet another odd problem . . .)
> >
> > We're looking to have someone log in to the display node, get a
> > vizstack powered desktop session, then run VNC clients to access
> > remote rendering nodes and run visualisation applications.
> It'll be a
> > single login at any given time, but potentially many
> different people
> > using it over time.
> >
> > The main reason we're hoping to be able to have people log
> in, rather
> > than use a shared account, is security and auditing - some of these
> > machines will be installed in relatively open places, so we
> want to be
> > able to restrict access somewhat.
> >
> > We'd be using kerberos authentication against our corporate
> AD domain.
> >
> > If the only reasonable solution at the moment is to run
> from an init
> > script we'll cope.
> >
> > Simon
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Kumar, Shree [mailto:shr...@hp...]
> > > Sent: Monday, 17 May 2010 4:07 PM
> > > To: viz...@li...
> > > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical
> > Desktops( was RE:
> > > Yet another odd problem . . .)
> > >
> > >
> > > Can you describe what kind of a setup you are aiming for ?
> > >
> > > To me, looks like it is a static kind of a setup. We may
> be able to
> > > come to a better solution for static setups.
> > >
> > > -- Shree
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
> > > Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 11:24 AM
> > > To: viz...@li...
> > > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical
> > Desktops( was RE:
> > > Yet another odd problem . . .)
> > >
> > > Possibly kill gdm as part of the session startup, then bring up
> > > viz-desktop, and when you log out restart gdm?
> > >
> > > Requiring another machine that you can use to ssh in is a bit
> > > problematic - these are supposed to be standalone
> systems. I guess
> > > worst case we can just use an init script and deal with the
> > hard-coded
> > > user . . .
> > >
> > > Simon
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Kumar, Shree [mailto:shr...@hp...]
> > > > Sent: Monday, 17 May 2010 3:46 PM
> > > > To: viz...@li...
> > > > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical
> > > Desktops( was RE:
> > > > Yet another odd problem . . .)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Running it from an init script should be possible - but
> > > that hardcodes
> > > > the user to whom the session is allocated.
> > > >
> > > > It should be possible to do this via a GDM session - but on
> > > which GPU
> > > > will the GDM session run - that will waste a GPU right ?
> > > >
> > > > If they can SSH into the box to start a session, then
> > > nothing like it.
> > > >
> > > > -- Shree
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
> > > > Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 11:01 AM
> > > > To: viz...@li...
> > > > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical
> > > Desktops( was RE:
> > > > Yet another odd problem . . .)
> > > >
> > > > Doing away with all the gettys will be problematic - people
> > > will need
> > > > to get onto the console of this system in order to run
> > > viz-desktop . .
> > > > .
> > > >
> > > > Would it be possible to run it from an init script? Or
> > > possibly from a
> > > > gdm session?
> > > >
> > > > Simon
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Kumar, Shree [mailto:shr...@hp...]
> > > > > Sent: Monday, 17 May 2010 3:21 PM
> > > > > To: viz...@li...
> > > > > Subject: [vizstack-users] Configuring Physical Desktops( was
> > > > > RE: Yet another odd problem . . .)
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Simon,
> > > > >
> > > > > This is turning out to be more complicated that I had
> > > thought. The
> > > > > interaction with the console seems dependent even on the
> > > > linux distro
> > > > > in use :-(
> > > > >
> > > > > In particular, I have observed that the default console
> > > > gets all the
> > > > > keyboard data - whether it comes from PS/2 or from USB
> > keyboards.
> > > > >
> > > > > On Ubuntu (that's your OS, correct?) you can try the
> following :
> > > > >
> > > > > - Disable all the gettys. This does away with the console
> > > > entirely -
> > > > > so nobody will be around to snoop on the keyboard data.
> > > > > - Try your existing desktop (which doesn't use all GPUs).
> > > > > This should hopefully work.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards
> > > > > -- Shree
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
> > > > > Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 1:10 PM
> > > > > To: viz...@li...
> > > > > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Yet another odd problem . . .
> > > > >
> > > > > Good to know there's a simple fix - I'll check out the doco
> > > > and see if
> > > > > I can figure it out from there, otherwise I may come back for
> > > > > assistance.
> > > > >
> > > > > Simon
> > > > > ________________________________________
> > > > > From: Kumar, Shree [shr...@hp...]
> > > > > Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 7:52 PM
> > > > > To: viz...@li...
> > > > > Subject: Re: [vizstack-users] Yet another odd problem . . .
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Simon,
> > > > >
> > > > > If you run a desktop which uses up _all_ the GPUs on the
> > > > system, then
> > > > > you will not face such issues.
> > > > >
> > > > > What you are noticing is a contention for input devices
> > > > between the X
> > > > > server and your console. When you run a desktop which does
> > > > not use all
> > > > > GPUs on a system, you need a dedicated keyboard and a
> > > mouse for the
> > > > > session to avoid such conflicts.
> > > > >
> > > > > Let me explain:
> > > > >
> > > > > - your console is running all the time on a VT(virtual
> > > > terminal). The
> > > > > console has access to the keyboard and mouse.
> > > > >
> > > > > - Using viz-desktop, when you start desktop on all the
> > > GPUs, the VT
> > > > > gets switched. This is similar to what happens when you run
> > > > GDM, or if
> > > > > press CTRL-ALT-F7. The VT running the X server now has
> > > > control of the
> > > > > keyboard and the mouse.
> > > > >
> > > > > - When you start a desktop on one or more (but not all)
> > > > GPUs, the VT
> > > > > does not get switched. Not switching the VT is a
> > > requirement to run
> > > > > multiple X servers, which in turn is needed to share the
> > > node with
> > > > > multiple X servers. Since the VT does not switch, your
> > > > console still
> > > > > has access to the keyboard and the mouse. That accounts
> > > for all the
> > > > > weirdness you see. In your case, the X server pops up
> > on the same
> > > > > screen where your console is, causing even more confusion.
> > > > >
> > > > > To get one or more physical desktops working the way you
> > > want, you
> > > > > will need a separate physical keyboard/mouse per user. I
> > > > have had best
> > > > > results with USB Keyboards and USB Mice. These need to be
> > > > added into
> > > > > node_config.xml. Let me know if I need to describe the
> > > nitty gritty
> > > > > involved in this !
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards
> > > > > -- Shree
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Sim...@cs... [mailto:Sim...@cs...]
> > > > > Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 12:46 PM
> > > > > To: viz...@li...
> > > > > Subject: [vizstack-users] Yet another odd problem . . .
> > > > >
> > > > > A very odd problem . . .
> > > > >
> > > > > I've been running viz-desktop from an ssh session all
> the time,
> > > > > because when I run it from a console session, the first
> > > > time I try to
> > > > > enter anything via the keyboard the display locks up -
> > > the mouse is
> > > > > still rendered normally, but nothing responds to it.
> > > > >
> > > > > I just found, while doing a bit of testing, that when I'm
> > > > logged in at
> > > > > the console and I run a viz-desktop session via ssh the
> > > things that
> > > > > were typed into the session show up on the console as if
> > > they were
> > > > > typed in. So, I fire up viz-desktop, bring up a terminal,
> > > > start up a
> > > > > vnc session, type in my password, and so on, and all those
> > > > lines show
> > > > > up on the console. I just did a test where the only thing I
> > > > brought up
> > > > > was firefox - I typed in a URL, hit enter, and the URL was
> > > > in the bash
> > > > > history of the console. Just for fun I brought up a
> > terminal and
> > > > > changed the prompt - when I closed the session the
> > prompt in the
> > > > > console was also changed.
> > > > >
> > > > > Presumably this is some kind of issue with stdin/stdout
> > not being
> > > > > redirected correctly . . .
> > > > >
> > > > > Simon Fowler
> > > > > Technical Specialist eResearch Visualisation team CSIRO IM&T
> > > > > Yarralumla, 2600 Desk 02 6124 1453 Mob 0409 245 871
> > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > > ----------------
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > vizstack-users mailing list
> > > > > viz...@li...
> > > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
> > > > >
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> > > > > ----------------
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> > > > > viz...@li...
> > > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
> > > > >
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> > > > > ----------------
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> > > > > vizstack-users mailing list
> > > > > viz...@li...
> > > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
> > > > >
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> > > > > ----------------
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> > > > > viz...@li...
> > > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
> > > > >
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> > > > ----------------
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> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > vizstack-users mailing list
> > > > viz...@li...
> > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
> > > >
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> > > > ----------------
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> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > vizstack-users mailing list
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> > > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
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> > >
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> > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
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> > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
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> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
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> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/vizstack-users
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>
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