HP Scalable Visualization Array Version 1.1 System Administration Guide

1 SVA System Administration Tasks
This chapter describes tasks system administrators commonly do on the Scalable Visualization Array (SVA).
Many of the tasks described in this chapter typically require root privileges and knowledge of the hardware
components of the SVA and its software configuration.
Configuration Data Files
This section describes the general format and content of the Configuration Data Files :
• Site Configuration File .
• User Configuration File .
• Job Settings File .
The Configuration Data Files contain information on the configuration of the SVA. Visualization applications
that run in a distributed way on the cluster need this configuration information, notably when launching a
visualization job. The Site Configuration File contains information on the configuration of the SVA, including
the site-specific arrangement of display devices. If the configuration of the SVA changes, you must change
the Site Configuration File.
You can use the Configuration Data Access functions, which work in conjunction with the Configuration
Data Files, in the job launch scripts and in a visualization application. The functions get system configuration
information and can put values that are used as part of the visualization job execution. The Configuration
Data Functions are documented in the SVA Visualization System Software Reference Guide .
Refer to the SVA User's Guide for an overview of the Configuration Data Files and the job launch scripts.
The scripts provide good examples of how you can use the Configuration Data Access functions.
Site Configuration File Definition
When you receive your cluster from HP, it has already been assembled. The Site Configuration File is defined
based on the physical configuration of the cluster and its nodes, including the node roles (render node versus
display node). Many of the Site Configuration File settings are static and are unlikely to change. Some of
these settings can be customized by user preferences and individual jobs.
If you physically add or remove nodes from the cluster, you must update the Site Configuration File. This is
a system administrator or HP Field Service task that uses a cluster discovery process. See “Changing Data
Files” (pg. 20) for details on how to change the Site Configuration File.
File Format
Data files are flat text files arranged in section names and populated by associated pairs of tags and tag
values.
Comments
A pound character (#) at the beginning of a line denotes a comment. The line is ignored unless it is within
a quoted value.
Section Names
Sections divide data files into areas that share related purposes. Sections have the following characteristics:
• Section names are case sensitive.
• Section names are enclosed in brackets without spaces. The left bracket must be in column one.
• Section names that support visualization are preceded with the prefix SVA_.
• Section names that are site customizations can have any name that is not already in use. Avoid using
names that conflict with cluster host names.
See “Section and Tag Contents” (pg. 12) for examples.
Configuration Data Files 11