##(see the SpecSpec for an explanation)

''Please check the status of this specification in Launchpad before editing it.  If it is Approved, contact the Assignee or another knowledgeable person before making changes.''

 * '''Launchpad Entry''': UbuntuSpec:easy-ubuntu-clustering
 * '''Packages affected''': 

Note: This specification entry is far from finished and is being discussed on:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6495259

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4294251 (read-only)



== Summary ==

We need to make it 1. possible and 2. easy for Ubuntu-based systems to host and/or join clustering environments. 
Something like the clustering capabilities found in Apple's Xserve.

== Release Note ==

## From template:
## This section should include a paragraph describing the end-user impact of this change.  It is meant to be included in the release notes of the first release in which it is implemented.  (Not all of these will actually be included in the release notes, at the release manager's discretion; but writing them is a useful exercise.)

## It is mandatory.

== Rationale ==

With this spec implemented, Ubuntu 8.10 or 9.04 would become an even greater solution for small businesses, school classes, small research labs or even the advanced home computer user that wish to work with clusters but can't afford to get programmers to set up a huge cluster.

## From template:
## This should cover the _why_: why is this change being proposed, what justifies it, where we see this justified.

== Use Cases ==

1. Kane is working as an accountant in an electrician's company. There are eight people who work in the office at random times with tasks that reach from normal accounting jobs to creating 3D applications on AutoCad or plotting big graphs. Without a cluster infrastructure, their computer resources are only sparsely used and they loose time when waiting for CPU intensive tasks that the other unused computers should be able to help out with.

2. Chris has a laptop running Ubuntu and couple of spare computers lying around at home, and since they are not used for something else, they ought to be able to complement the laptops processing power while he is at home. 

3. Joe is a consultant who does contract Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) from his home office.  CAD is Graphics and Ram intensive while FEA is CPU and Ram intensive. Joe is a sole business owner, needing to keep costs ultra low but offer a big service.  A clustering solution with Virtual Machines (like VirtualBox) to host the separate workstation environments is critical (CAD and FEA packages are often single OS specific due to the small user market they are written for).  The cluster needs to look and feel like a single large computer to each of the Virtual Machines - some of the CAD and FEA packages can run multi-threaded while some do not).  Joe's programming skills are low so a unified system solution will be needed but he's been using K/X/Ubuntu for several years and is comfortable with the command line and finding solutions through the search engines. Some jobs Joe does are small and only need the workstation he uses now while larger jobs would finish in a more timely manner if he could scale up with the computers the kids use after school along with the few nearly retired workstations currently stored in the basement.


== Assumptions ==



== Design ==

It is important that it is easy to set up a working dynamic cluster-installation without having to make significant changes to your Ubuntu system, preferably using a nice GUI and AppleBonjour-look and feel. This means an easy to set up solution even for end-users and will help attract new users from the business sector.

For this, we would need to use a widely adopted cluster-solution. Possible candidates:
 * [[http://www.kerrighed.org/|Kerrighed]]
 * [[http://chromium.sourceforge.net/|Chromium]]
 * [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/ssic-linux/|OpenSSI]]
 * [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/openmosix/|OpenMosix]]
 * [[http://pareto.uab.es/mcreel/PelicanHPC/|PelicanHPC]]  - (v1.5 has kernel 2.6.24)
 * (more? fill in)

Of these, Kerrighed is the only one with a recent release based on the 2.6.20 kernel*. Since Feisty and Gutsy are known to run on this kernel (and maybe even Hardy?) this looks like a viable option. 
OpenMosix requires a 2.4 kernel and The OpenMosix Project has officially closed as of March 1, 2008.
The status of OpenSSI is currently unknown (change-me).
The status of Chromium is currently unknown (change-me).

*Latest version is Kerrighed 2.3.0. It was released on April 25th, 2008. It is based on Linux 2.6.20

## From template:
## You can have subsections that better describe specific parts of the issue.

== Implementation ==

## From template:
## This section should describe a plan of action (the "how") to implement the changes discussed. Could include subsections like:

=== UI Changes  ===

## From template:
## Should cover changes required to the UI, or specific UI that is required to implement this

=== Code Changes ===

## From template:
## Code changes should include an overview of what needs to change, and in some cases even the specific details.

=== Migration ===

## From template:
## Include:
##  * data migration, if any
##  * redirects from old URLs to new ones, if any
##  * how users will be pointed to the new way of doing things, if necessary.

== Test/Demo Plan ==
  *  http://trac.nchc.org.tw/grid/wiki/krg_DRBL (untested instruction page)
## From template:
## It's important that we are able to test new features, and demonstrate them to users.  Use this section to describe a short plan that anybody can follow that demonstrates the feature is working.  This can then be used during CD testing, and to show off after release.

  *  [[attachment:build.sh]] (script to download and compile Kerrighed under Ubuntu 8.04 LTS)
  *  [[/UbuntuKerrighedClusterGuide|Setting up a Kerrighed cluster using Ubuntu 8.04]]
  *  [[http://www.debianadmin.com/how-to-set-up-a-high-performance-cluster-hpc-using-debian-lenny-and-kerrighed.html|How to set up a high-performance cluster HPC using Debian Lenny and Kerrighed]]

## This need not be added or completed until the specification is nearing beta.

== Outstanding Issues ==

## From template:
## This should highlight any issues that should be addressed in further specifications, and not problems with the specification itself; since any specification with problems cannot be approved.

== BoF agenda and discussion ==

## From template:
## Use this section to take notes during the BoF; if you keep it in the approved spec, use it for summarising what was discussed and note any options that were rejected.

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CategorySpec