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Asked: 2024-09-25T01:27:48+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to set up SLURM on Ubuntu 20.04?

I’ve been diving into the world of high-performance computing lately and decided to set up a cluster using Ubuntu 20.04. I’ve heard a lot about SLURM and how it can really help in managing job scheduling on clusters, but I have to admit, I’m a bit overwhelmed by the whole process.

I read somewhere that there are several steps involved in setting it up, but I can’t quite wrap my head around it all. I mean, there are so many components to think about—like installing the necessary packages, configuring the SLURM controller, creating a database, and even setting up the compute nodes. It’s a little daunting. Plus, I’m concerned about ensuring that everything communicates properly. I’ve seen all kinds of guides online, but they often assume you’re already an expert or skip over important details that might trip me up.

Has anyone actually gone through this process and can offer a straightforward way to tackle it? I’d love to hear about what steps you followed from start to finish. Maybe even a couple of tips or common pitfalls to avoid would help too.

Also, is it necessary to have a dedicated node for the SLURM controller, or can I run everything on a single machine to start? What about the networking setup? Any specific configurations I need to keep in mind?

In addition, if you can shed some light on how to test if it’s working properly after the installation, that would be awesome! I definitely want to know at the end if I’ve done this right.

Honestly, any help or insight from someone who’s been through it would be super appreciated. It feels like I’m walking into this blindfolded, and the more I read, the more confused I seem to get. I’m just trying to set the foundation for some cool projects I have in mind, and starting with SLURM seems like the way to go! Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

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    1. SLURM Setup Help

      Setting Up SLURM on Ubuntu 20.04

      Setting up SLURM can definitely feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re diving into high-performance computing for the first time. Here’s a simplified approach you can follow:

      Basic Steps to Install SLURM

      1. Install Necessary Packages: 
        sudo apt update
sudo apt install slurm-wlm slurmctld slurmd munge
      2. Set Up Munge: This is important for authentication. 
        sudo create-munge-key
sudo chown munge:munge /etc/munge/munge.key
sudo systemctl start munge
sudo systemctl enable munge
      3. Configure SLURM Controller:

        Edit the /etc/slurm/slurm.conf file. You’ll want to define control parameters. Here’s a small example to get you started:

        ClusterName=mycluster
SlurmdPort=7003
SlurmctldPort=7002
AuthType=auth/munge
PartitionName=debug Nodes=ALL Default=YES MaxTime=INFINITE State=UP
      4. Start SLURM Services: 
        sudo systemctl start slurmd
sudo systemctl start slurmctld
      5. Set Up Compute Nodes: If you’re starting on a single machine, just install SLURM on the same machine. But for future expansion, you might want additional nodes.

      Networking Setup

      For networking, ensure that all your nodes can communicate with each other. You might need to adjust firewall settings, especially if you have UFW enabled:

      sudo ufw allow 7002/tcp
sudo ufw allow 7003/tcp

      Testing Your Setup

      Once everything is installed and running, you can check SLURM’s status with:

      scontrol show nodes

      If everything is set up correctly, you should see your node(s) listed. You can also run a simple job using:

      sbatch --wrap="sleep 10"

      Then check with:

      squeue

      Common Pitfalls

      • Forget to start Munge! Double-check that it’s running.
      • Configuration files need to match across nodes, so copy them over if you expand.
      • Ensure firewalls allow communication on the necessary ports.

      Final Thoughts

      You don’t need a dedicated node for the SLURM controller initially; running everything on a single machine is totally okay while you’re getting started. Once you’re comfortable, you can scale up!

      Hopefully, this gives you a clearer picture to get started. Just take it step by step, and don’t hesitate to ask if you need more help!


    2. Setting up SLURM on an Ubuntu 20.04 cluster can indeed feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps can greatly simplify the process. First, you should install the necessary packages for SLURM by running `sudo apt update` followed by `sudo apt install slurm-wlm slurmctld slurmd munge`. Once the installation is complete, you’ll need to configure the SLURM controller. This involves editing the `/etc/slurm/slurm.conf` file to specify parameters like `ControlMachine` (the hostname of the control node) and `NodeName` along with their respective configurations. If you’re starting on a single machine, you can run both the SLURM controller and compute node processes on it, which is a great way to test your setup without needing a dedicated node initially. For networking, ensure that all nodes can communicate with each other over SSH and that you’ve configured firewalls to allow the relevant SLURM ports (usually 6817 and 6818) to be accessible.

      To check if your SLURM installation is functioning correctly after setup, you can run the command `sinfo`, which should provide you with a list of available nodes and their states. Additionally, test job scheduling by submitting a simple job script using `sbatch`. A straightforward script might look like this:

      #!/bin/bash
#SBATCH --job-name=test_job
#SBATCH --output=output.txt
#SBATCH --ntasks=1
#SBATCH --time=00:01:00

echo "Hello from SLURM!"

      Save this as `test_job.sh`, and submit it with `sbatch test_job.sh`. Monitor the output file (`output.txt`) to ensure that your job ran successfully. Common pitfalls include incorrect configurations in your `slurm.conf`, failing to start the Munge authentication service (run `sudo systemctl start munge`), or network issues. By carefully following these steps and validating each part of your configuration, you’ll set a solid foundation for future high-performance computing projects.

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