Using Virtual Machine-ware to run SLHC Simulations Laura Gilbert - Oxford Atlas Physics meeting 5th June 2006

Virtual Machine Software Host OS VMWARE PLAYER hardware emulation Guest OS Guest Software ethernet hard disks cd-romprocessorfloppyprocessorethernetcd-rom floppy

The SLHC VM WINDOWS VMWARE PLAYER hardware emulation Scientific Linux 4.3 ATLAS SLHC Software Other ethernet hard disks cd-rom processorfloppyprocessorethernetcd-rom floppy

The SLHC VM WINDOWS VMWARE PLAYER hardware emulation Scientific Linux 4.3 ATLAS SLHC Software Other ethernet hard disks cd-romprocessorfloppyprocessorethernetcd-rom floppy SL4.3 – 2 /usr /tmp SL4.3 – 1 / /etc /var … SLHC Software Data Drive Remotely stored files - readonly, shared Local files – writable, personal

Installing and Running the ATLAS Virtual Machine Download and install VMware player: Download and install VMware player: Mount ppfs2\particle\gilbert on Z:. Contains two remote disks (~10GB). Mount ppfs2\particle\gilbert on Z:. Contains two remote disks (~10GB). Copy into working dir and untar: Copy into working dir and untar: ppfs2\particle\gilbert\VMs\DRIVERS\11.2.0_SLHC\SL43_remote.vmx : 4MB ppfs2\particle\gilbert\VMs\DRIVERS\11.2.0_SLHC\SL43_remote.vmx : 4MB ppfs2\particle\gilbert\VMs\UserDisks.zip : 150MB ppfs2\particle\gilbert\VMs\UserDisks.zip : 150MB Creates own memory and eth0 address on first run, altering SL43_remote.vmx. Creates own memory and eth0 address on first run, altering SL43_remote.vmx. Run SL43_remote.vmx in VMplayer: Run SL43_remote.vmx in VMplayer: username “SLHCuser” passwd “VMtest”. username “SLHCuser” passwd “VMtest”. run “vmware-toolbox --minimize” to use copy/paste between host & guest. run “vmware-toolbox --minimize” to use copy/paste between host & guest. To shutdown use cntrl+alt+insert. To shutdown use cntrl+alt+insert.

Installing and Running the ATLAS Virtual Machine

Features/Drawbacks Currently using NAT (sharing physical IP with Windows). Outward networking works as usual. Currently using NAT (sharing physical IP with Windows). Outward networking works as usual. Can be isolated. Security issues to consider. Can be isolated. Security issues to consider. Can use SSSH to log into VM from host and transfer files. Can use SSSH to log into VM from host and transfer files. Would need to set up port- forwarding on windows host to log in remotely. Would need to set up port- forwarding on windows host to log in remotely. Connectivity

Features/Drawbacks Memory allocation can be altered by the user in vmplayer, but only on reboot. Default 160MB. Memory allocation can be altered by the user in vmplayer, but only on reboot. Default 160MB. Clicking the cross will automatically snapshot the machine and suspend it. Clicking the cross will automatically snapshot the machine and suspend it. It can be restarted from the same point later on. It can be restarted from the same point later on. It can them be physically moved and run again in a different dir. It can them be physically moved and run again in a different dir. Difficult to "nice" at present, suggest running primarily overnight for now. Difficult to "nice" at present, suggest running primarily overnight for now. Can result in more frequent reboots Can result in more frequent reboots Memory/Snapshotting

Features/Drawbacks Data disks can start small, are transparently disposable and replacable. Thus small download. Data disks can start small, are transparently disposable and replacable. Thus small download. Can also in theory be "shrunk". Can also in theory be "shrunk". Remote disks are all readonly so should be no corruption/interference. Remote disks are all readonly so should be no corruption/interference. The skeleton vms are all invisible to one another despite shared disks. The skeleton vms are all invisible to one another despite shared disks. Data disks will expand up top 20G, can use up all space if not watched. Data disks will expand up top 20G, can use up all space if not watched. Effect of many VMs accessing same software and SL drives needs to be tested. Effect of many VMs accessing same software and SL drives needs to be tested. Can only write to local disks. /etc and so forth are read-only. Can only write to local disks. /etc and so forth are read-only. Disks

More comments on setup and running Floppy and CD-ROM are disabled for security and simplicity. Can be enabled. Floppy and CD-ROM are disabled for security and simplicity. Can be enabled. Possible for user to alter networking also (eg. Switch to bridging). Possible for user to alter networking also (eg. Switch to bridging). Security therefore relies on users. Security therefore relies on users. Hard disks can be switched around if you know what you’re doing. Hard disks can be switched around if you know what you’re doing. Timekeeping dodgy! Timekeeping dodgy! Don’t fiddle with anything to start with! If it breaks/produces errors let me k Don’t fiddle with anything to start with! If it breaks/produces errors let me k

SLHC Simulation Skeleton SLHC jobs adapted from Abdel. Skeleton SLHC jobs adapted from Abdel. SLHC software installed under /ATLAS with additional modules under /ATLAS/addons. SLHC software installed under /ATLAS with additional modules under /ATLAS/addons. Go to /personal/jobs. Run “./ #1 #2”. Output will go in /personal/data, logs in /personal/log. Go to /personal/jobs. Run “./ #1 #2”. Output will go in /personal/data, logs in /personal/log. Runs simulation jobs in batches of 100. Runs simulation jobs in batches of 100. Scp outputs to ppslgen: /datadisk/bigdisk/lhc/VMData/log, /data. Log measures cpu time. Scp outputs to ppslgen: /datadisk/bigdisk/lhc/VMData/log, /data. Log measures cpu time.

Further Work Install 12 when it's running for normal ATLAS simulation work. Install 12 when it's running for normal ATLAS simulation work. Test tolerance of multiple access to remote disks Test tolerance of multiple access to remote disks Benchmark speeds on desktop Benchmark speeds on desktop Find out how to deal with unsynchronised clocks. Find out how to deal with unsynchronised clocks. Can I have 5 volunteers? Can I have 5 volunteers? Thanks to Abdel, Chris and Rosario for help and enlightening discussions.