Scalable Systems Software Enabling Technology Center

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Cluster BIOS Proposal Richard Ferri
Problem Statement BIOSes were created largely
in the early 1980s, largely for DOS systems.
These BIOSes are largely unsuited for today's
clusters The BIOS model is that there is an
operator attached to the keyboard on every
machine, monitoring messages, navigating menus,
etc. It's been really really convenient for BIOS
writers and manufacturers to use the same BIOS
in workstations and in nodes that sell for
cluster computing We try to solve cluster
problems on workstation BIOSes -- Collecting MAC
address, bootlist manipulation, error logs,
etc. The BIOS we use is based on the workstation
model -- We need a new BIOS model for clusters
2
Cluster BIOS Proposal Richard Ferri
Introducing -- ClusterBIOS ClusterBIOS is an
API so that programs can talk to any ClusterBIOS
certified hardware in the same
way. Manufacturers will provide compute nodes
that adhere to the ClusterBIOS standard OR
-- A project like LinuxBIOS will support the API
3
Cluster BIOS Proposal Richard Ferri
Initial ClusterBIOS methods might be -- What
is my MAC address? -- Give me the error log --
What is my bootlist? Set the bootlist -- Power
on/off reset -- Flash the BIOS using this
provided file -- What level is my
BIOS? Eventually, extend to things like --
Membership services
4
Cluster BIOS Proposal Richard Ferri
PROPOSAL That we investigate the
appropriateness of a ClusterBIOS as part of the
installation/configuration project team Contact
the LinuxBIOS guys for comments