HP Scalable Visualization Array (SVA) Software instruction

5 Application Examples

This chapter describes the steps to start several representative applications that vary in their structure and requirements:

•A workstation application that is launched remotely to use only a single node in the SVA. See “Running an Existing Application on a Single SVA Workstation” (pg. 31).

•An application that uses render and display capabilities of the SVA (for example, ParaView). See “Running Render and Display Applications Using ParaView” (pg. 35).

•A workstation application that uses Chromium software and DMX to display on multiple tiles using the SVA. See “Running a Workstation Application Using a Multi-Tile Display” (pg. 38).

Table 5-1summarizes the differences among three application scenarios, detailed in the following sections.

Table 5-1 Comparison Summary of Application Scenarios

	Application Type	Key SVA Task	Data Access
Scenario
Remote access using HP	Workstation application	Access cluster	Large dataset from
RGS		workstations from offices	computations using a
		over standard ethernet	high-speed file system.
		network using HP RGS.
Resolution	Workstation application	Allocate appropriate	Large dataset from
scaling/multi-tile		nodes, invoke and	computations using a
		initialize the run-time	high-speed file system.
		environment,
		applications, and support
		facilities.
	Multi-display, cluster	Allocate appropriate	Large dataset loaded in
	application	nodes, initialize the	parallel by application
		run-time environment,	components via a
		and invoke distributed	high-speed parallel file
		application components.	system.
Data scaling and	Parallel, distributed data,	Allocate appropriate	Large dataset loaded in
compositing	cluster application	render and display nodes	parallel by application
		and invoke and initialize	components using a
		the run-time environment	high-speed parallel file
		and applications.	system.

Benefit

Remote access to high-end workstations managed as a shared, cluster resource.

Workstation application can display its output on

amulti-tile display via installed open source facilities.

Cluster application can scale up to display on walls and immersive displays using available libraries, for example, CAVELib™ or VR Juggler.

Parallel application can scale up to visualize very large datasets.

Running an Existing Application on a Single SVA Workstation

This section describes the main steps and considerations to get an application that already runs on a single workstation to run on a single node within an SVA. Control takes place using a workstation remote to the cluster.

Assumptions and Goal

This example assumes you have a visualization application that currently runs on a single workstation. It also assumes that you have not specifically modified it to take advantage of the parallel features of a cluster.

The goal of this example is to make the application run on the SVA while maintaining control remotely from a desktop that is outside the cluster. This desktop is remote relative to the SVA although you may consider it your local workstation. In this chapter, your local workstation is meant to designate a machine that is remote to the SVA.

Working in this way lets you take advantage of the more powerful features of the cluster. These include more powerful graphics cards, or specific software libraries such as OpenGL extensions. It is also helpful and convenient for testing and debugging your application. It also facilitates collaborative work.

In addition to having your cluster set up with the HP XC and SVA software, you also need to have HP RGS installed and configured on those nodes within the cluster that you intend to access remotely. You also must have the RGS client software (the RGS Receiver) installed and configured on your local desktop where you intend to route the output from your application.

Running an Existing Application on a Single SVA Workstation 31