I recently rolled out a new distributed model for our research computing cluster at work. We’re using GlusterFS for networked home directories and SLURM for job/resource scheduling. GlusterFS allows us to scale storage with minimal downtime or service disruption, and SLURM allows us to treat compute nodes as generic resources for running users’ jobs (ie, […]
Sometimes users run scripts without checking the parameters first, often recycling scripts they’ve used elsewhere, at former jobs or at other institutes. Sometimes this works out, sometimes it doesn’t… With a load of ~75 and 32 physical cores, the CPU usage on this server is oversubscribed 2.3 times a “normal” 100% load (where 100% of […]
Strong Swedish coffee and a full-screen, white-on-black terminal: a match made in heaven. There’s no better way to hack than with a cup of strong Swedish coffee. I’ve got about five kilograms of the stuff on my desk at work: We have a Swedish guy in the office and whenever he goes home he brings […]
I work as a Systems Analyst at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya. In the name of alleviating poverty in the developing world, our scientists generate a lot of data about diseases, weather, markets, etc. Lots of data means lots of servers, routers, switches, etc and, because most science types aren’t tech […]
Contrary to popular belief, hacking on Linux kernels and recompiling Android is not my day job… I am gainfully employed as a Systems Analyst/Administrator/whatever at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya. See? We use high-performance Linux servers to analyze research data, including genetic sequence data, remote sensing imagery, GIS layers, etc. I’m […]