[mpich-discuss] Cluster with uneven CPU speeds

[Ron Palmer]

I have a small cluster of computers with uneven clock speed CPUs and 
currently I am running with "-np" == total number of cores. However, it 
appears as if the fastest computer has to wait for the slower ones to 
finish at the end (at least I believe so). The most recent process took 
65 hours so I am interested in finding ways to optimise the process.

Is it possible to, say, use a larger "-np" and then increase the thread 
number for the faster CPUs in the machine file to make the faster 
computers do more work so, ideally, they all finish about the same time? 
Will it finish off the first batch then start on the next batch? Or, 
will the faster computers just get more concurrent jobs, possibly 
slowing down the processing?

eg, if the single CPU of PC_A has twice the clock rating to that of 
single CPU PC_B, and both has quad cores, then use -np=12 and then have 
the following in the machinefile:
PC_A:8
PC_B:4

Perhaps this is something better addressed with job scheduling software 
like GridEngine? Reuti?

Thanks,
Ron


-- 

*Ron Palmer*MSc MBA.

Principal Geophysicist

ron.palmer at pgcgroup.com.au <mailto:ron.palmer at pgcgroup.com.au>

0413 579 099

07 3103 4963


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