Method and system for installing program in parallel computer system

Abstract

A distributing node initiates an install control program in receiving nodes, and then broadcasts or multicasts program data to the receiving nodes. Thereby, the installation of the program into the nodes is carried out in shorter time. In this event, the distributing node and the receiving nodes buffer the program data in units of data block sizes of storage devices associated therewith. The distributing node executes in parallel the processing for storing data read from the storage device in a buffer, and the processing for reading the data from the buffer and broadcasting or multicasting the read data to the receiving node. The receiving node executes in parallel the processing for storing the data received from the distributing node in a buffer, and the processing for reading the program data from the buffer and storing the program data in the storage device thereof.

1 . A method of installing a program in a parallel computer system including plural nodes comprising: 
 selecting one of said plural nodes as a distributing node for delivering to remaining nodes of said plural nodes a program to be executed in parallel in said parallel computer system, and selecting said remaining nodes as receiving nodes;    providing each of said receiving nodes with an install control program which receives and stores a program from said distributing node;    causing said distributing node to initiate said install control program in each of said receiving nodes; and    broadcasting said program to be executed in parallel, from said distributing node to said receiving nodes, and causing said receiving nodes to simultaneously receive said program.    
     
     
         2 . An installing method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said distributing node confirms whether or not each of said receiving nodes is powered on before initiating said install control program in each of said receiving nodes, and broadcasts said program to receiving nodes which are powered on.    
     
     
         3 . An installing method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 notifying all said receiving nodes that said program to be executed in parallel has been delivered, after completing the delivery of said program.    
     
     
         4 . An installing method according to  claim 1 , wherein in broadcasting said program to be executed in parallel, following four steps are executed in parallel: 
 a step of causing said distributing node to read said program from a storage device, and to store the read program in a first buffer;    a step of causing said distributing node to read said program from said first buffer, and to send the read program to said receiving nodes;    a step of causing said receiving node to store said received program in a second buffer; and    a step of causing said receiving node to read a program distributed from said second buffer, and to store the distributed program in a storage device.    
     
     
         5 . An installing method according to  claim 4 , wherein said distributing node reads a program distributed in data block units of said storage device, and stores the read program in said first buffer.  
     
     
         6 . An installing method according to  claim 4. , wherein said receiving node reads said received program from said second buffer in data block units of said storage device of said receiving node itself, and stores the read program in said storage device of said receiving node itself.  
     
     
         7 . An installing method according to  claim 4 , wherein said distributing node divides said first buffer by a block size of a data block in said storage device, and manages said first buffer as a ring buffer using a first buffer management table.  
     
     
         8 . An installing method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 said first buffer management table stores a three-value buffer state indicative of a state in which a data block is being read or has been completely transmitted to said receiving nodes, a state in which said data block has been completely read, or a state in which all data has been fully read, to manage said first buffer in blocks.    
     
     
         9 . An installing method according to  claim 4 , wherein said receiving node divides said second buffer by a block size of a data block in the storage device to manages said second buffer as a ring buffer using a second buffer management table.  
     
     
         10 . An installing method according to  claim 9 , wherein 
 said second buffer management table stores a three-value buffer state indicative of a state in which data is being received or has been completely written into a disk, or a state in which said data has been completely received, or a state in which all data has been completely written, to manage said second buffer in blocks.    
     
     
         11 . A parallel computer system including plural nodes, comprising: 
 a storage device for storing a program which is executed in parallel in said plural nodes of said parallel computer system;    a distributing node being one of said plural nodes, and for delivering said program to remaining nodes of said plural nodes; and    receiving nodes for receiving said program delivered from said distributing node,    wherein said distributing node includes a master install control unit, said master install control unit notifying said receiving nodes, which receive said program, of delivery of said program before delivering said program, reading said program to be delivered from said storage device, and delivering said program simultaneously to said receiving nodes; and    said receiving node includes an install control unit, said install control unit receiving said program from said distributing node, and storing said program in a storage device of said receiving node itself.    
     
     
         12 . A parallel computer system according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said master install control unit includes a first buffer, said first buffer temporarily holding said program to be delivered which is read from said storage device; and    said master install control unit performs in parallel an operation involved in reading said program to be delivered from said storage device and writing said program to be delivered in said first buffer, and an operation involved in reading said program to be delivered from said first buffer and transferring data to said receiving nodes.    
     
     
         13 . A parallel computer system according to  claim 12 , wherein 
 said master install control unit includes a first buffer management table, said first buffer management table managing said first buffer for each data block size of said storage unit; and    said first buffer management table stores a three-value buffer state indicative of a state in which a data block is being read or has been completely transmitted to said receiving nodes, a state in which said data block has been completely read, or a state in which all data has been completely read.    
     
     
         14 . A parallel computer system according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said install control unit includes a second buffer, said second buffer temporarily buffering said program delivered from said distributing node; and    said install control unit performs in parallel an operation involved in receiving said program from said distributing node and writing said program in said second buffer, and an operation involved in reading said program delivered from said second buffer and writing said program in said storage device of said receiving node itself.    
     
     
         15 . A parallel computer system according to  claim 14 , wherein 
 said install control unit includes a second buffer management table, said second buffer management table managing said second buffer for each data block size of said storage unit; and    said second buffer management table stores a three-value buffer state indicative of a state in which said program to be delivered is being received or has been completely written into said disk, a state in which said program to be delivered has been completely received, or a state in which all data has been completely written.    
     
     
         16 . A parallel computer system according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said master install control unit includes a power source control unit, said power source control unit checking whether or not said receiving node is powered on before delivering said program.    
     
     
         17 . A medium storing a computer executable installing program for a parallel computer system, said computer executable installing program comprising: 
 a step of causing a distributing node to initiate an install control program in plural receiving nodes which receive a program;    a step of causing said distributing node to read a program to be delivered in order to be executed in each node, from a storage device of said distributing node itself, and to store the read program in a first buffer;    a step of causing said distributing node to read said program from said first buffer, and to send the read program to said receiving nodes;    a step of causing said receiving node to store a received program in a second buffer;    a step of causing said receiving node to read a distributed program from said second buffer, and to store the read program in a storage device of said receiving node itself; and    a step of causing said distributing node to notify all said receiving nodes of completion of program delivery after completing delivery of said program.