Newsgroups: comp.unix.misc,comp.parallel
From: hender@nas.nasa.gov (Robert L. Henderson)
Subject: Re: Summary: Please relate experience with NQS, DQS, DNQS, LSF
Organization: CSC at NASA Ames Research Center, NAS Ssytems Division
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 13:34:45 GMT
Message-ID: <D1w63y.3oG@cnn.nas.nasa.gov>

Might I add a new canidate to your list of batch systems.  The Numerical
Aerodynamic Simulation (NAS) Facility at NASA'a Ames Research Center was
the creator of the original Unix batch system, NQS.  NAS is also the 
deleveloper of the new generation batch system, the Portable Batch System,
PBS.

PBS is fully Posix batch compliant; I served on  the P1003.15 Batch working
group.  PBS is designed to support supercomputers, parallel systems, and
workstation clusters.   A unique feature of PBS is the complete seperation
of scheduling policy implementation from the remainder of the batch system.
The Scheduler portion is a separate daemon process.  The site has its choice
of two provided scheduler in which it may implement their policy.  

The first scheduler is rule based.  The policy is written as a set of rules
in a "C language" like grammer.  The rule based scheduler parses and interpretates
the rules and preforms job scheduling based on them.

The second scheduler is Tcl based.  This options provides the site with a set
of routines to interface Tcl scripts with the Batch system.  The programming is
harder, but more flexible.   

If neither of the two provided schedulers are satisfactory, the site may roll
their own scheduler using the provided batch API.

PBS also comes fully documentated.  There is an "External Reference Spec",
describing the features and external interfaces.  The ERS is over 130 pages.
The "Internal Design Spec", IDS, is twice that size and gives a detailed 
design of each and every module and function within the system.

Beta test copies are available from NASA Ames to sites within the USA.
For more general information, contact myself; for specific information 
on Beta availability, contact Dave Tweten at tweten@nas.nasa.gov.
-- 
Bob Henderson				hender@nas.nasa.gov
NASA Ames Research Center

"My goal in life?  To find the winning lotto ticket on the sidewalk!"


