EnFuzion handles all the file distribution and parameter sets associated with distributing a parameterised program across a cluster of nodes. Its current design only allows direct connection to each of the nodes through non-secured connections. EnFuzion is designed for use in an organisation’s local cluster that is protected from the Internet. It currently cannot be secured to use across the Internet without using third party applications such as V.P.N.’s or SSH tunnelling. Even then, it is not optimised to use those links efficiently as it will repeatedly send the same data down those links for each node.
EnFuzion can be distributed further than what it is currently capable of. This was done by producing a multi-site EnFuzion client that launches multiple EnFuzions on different clusters and distributes the jobs across them. This adds a hieratical approach to distributing the computational application across EnFuzion clusters. MSE is simple to use and is able to access clusters protected behind firewalls.
EnFuzion version 6's GUI is launched with EnFuzion's dispatcher and will continue to display the status of the run. With the Multi-Site EnFuzion GUI is shown via a Java Applet. This was chosen to allow viewing using any modern browser. The GUI can be disconnected and reconnected any time during the run. Furthermore, multiple viewers can display the current run allowing cooperation between sites.
This project can be extended to include support for EnFuzion 7. Most of the ground work is done and the program stucture will allow modification of the current EnFuzion 6 class to add to the polymorphic Server class. Also support to connect to another MSE. This will allow a larger network of cooperating clusters.
This site discusses issues in developing the multi-site EnFuzion client. They are: Security issues with the way EnFuzion installations are secured. Problems with making EnFuzion act like a member of a larger Multi-site cluster including job allocation. And discusses the case study.
The slides from
the final talk and the report
are also available. Please look at the
Credits, References & Acknowledgements.