HP Scalable Visualization Array Software - Manual (Page 33)

Data Access
If you use a single SVA display node, place the data files in a convenient location given your site configuration.
One location that provides reasonably fast access to the data is on a local disk of the display node, which
is the node running your application. Given that the application in this scenario runs on a single node, there
is little to be gained by distributing the data.
If you choose to store data locally, you can copy the data file to the display node after the application starts.
This ensures that you access a node allocated to your job. You can use the /tmp directory to store the data
on the local disk.
Tip
Consider running the launch script interactively if you plan to use local disk access to the data. When run
in interactive mode, the script allocates cluster resources first. You can then copy the data file to the allocated
display node before actually launching your visualization application.
Alternatively, NFS and HP Scalable File Share (SFS) can provide access to the data. Because HP SFS provides
high bandwidth access to data over the SI of SVA, it is the best choice if performance is a high priority.
See the SVA System Administration Guide for guidelines and alternatives for accessing data files when
running visualization applications on the SVA.
Use of Display Surfaces
The SVA provides the infrastructure and utilities to simplify the task of allocating display devices. The primary
mechanism that you use to set up displays is the Display Surface. A Display Surface is composed of one or
more display nodes and their associated display devices; for example, a simple Display Surface is a specific
display node and an attached flat panel display device. Initial configuration of the SVA sets up a series of
default named Display Surfaces, one for each display node and its directly cabled display device. Any of
these default Display Surfaces should work for this example, assuming the display node has the RGS Sender
software installed, an external NIC, and uses a single graphics card to output one or two tiles.
Because the RGS Sender routes the display output to your local desktop, its display device is the one you
typically use. Display output can appear simultaneously on the display device of the SVA if you specify a
Display Surface when you start the launch script. Alternatively, if you choose not to specify a Display Surface
and accept a default node that is RGS-enabled, your display output may only appear remotely. This takes
place when the assigned node is a render node rather than a display node. Refer to the
SVA Visualization
System Software Reference Guide for detailed syntax of script options.
Tip
You can also share your RGS Receiver on your desktop. In this way, other users can see the output of your
application simultaneously at their desktops. See the RGS documentation for more information on how to
do this.
See the SVA System Administration Guide for information on setting up displays, display nodes, Display
Surfaces, and how to create new ones.
Launch Script
The SVA Software Kit installs a fully functional script that you can use to launch your visualization application
using HP RGS. The script derives some of its key input parameters from the Configuration Data Files. You
can override some of these default values by creating a User Configuration File or by direct input on the
command line.
You typically specify three pieces of information when using the script:
•
A Display Surface with a single display node configured as follows:
With a single graphics card supporting one or two tiles. This results in a large window on the
local display.
•
•
With two graphics cards, only one of which can be used for the remote session.
This display node must have the RGS Sender software installed and have a NIC to access the external
network. You can specify the Display Surface as an option when you use the RGS launch script.
Running an Existing Application on a Single SVA Workstation 33