HP SVA V2.0 Visualization System Software Reference Guide

1 Main Areas of the VSS
There are several categories of Visualization System Software (VSS) that help you get an
application running on an HP Scalable Visualization Array (SVA). In addition, there are job
launch scripts and script templates that help you run applications on the SVA. This chapter
provides an overview of these utilities, functions, and commands.
1.1 Utilities
There are several utilities whose syntax is documented in this book.
1.1.1 Configuration Data Utility
The svaconfigure Configuration Data Utility creates or redefines the Site Configuration File
in the event that a node is added or removed from the cluster, or if the cluster is re-imaged with
operating system or SVA Kits.
Refer to the HP SVA User's Guide for an overview of the use of Configuration Data Files to launch
visualization applications. Refer to the HP SVA System Administration Guide for details on the
format and content of the data files and how to customize them for your environment.
1.1.2 Framelock Utility
Framelock allows the display channels from multiple workstations to be synchronized, thus
creating one large virtual display that can be driven by a multisystem cluster for performance
scalability.
The Framelock Utility (svacontrolframelock) lets you turn hardware framelock on and off
at any time. It is particularly helpful when used in the context of an SVA job.
See the SVA User's Guide for more information on how to take advantage of this functionality in
SVA.
1.2 Scripts, Functions, and Environment Variables
Script templates are scripts that require site-specific editing before you can use them to run
visualization jobs on an SVA. There are several templates you can use, depending on the type
of visualization application you run.
There are also fully functioning job launch scripts that typically do not require editing.
The templates and fully functioning scripts are discussed in the HP SVA User's Guide. The Reference
sections of this document contain reference information on the different templates and scripts.
The same reference information is available as manpages on all SVA nodes.
There are a number of Configuration Data Access functions used in the templates and scripts.
For example, functions that make it possible to put and get data to and from the Configuration
Data Files. This configuration information is necessary when you launch visualization applications
on the cluster. You can also use these functions in the launch scripts, and in your application to
get system configuration information and to put values that are used as part of the visualization
job execution. These functions use a C style of calling standard, which you should bear in mind
if you intend calling them from your application.
There is also a set of Data Access environment variables that are defined using values from the
Configuration Data Files. You can use these environment variables in job launch scripts, in
combination with the Configuration Data Access functions. See Table 2-1 for the list of variables.
1.1 Utilities 9