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Quadrics Linux Kernel Patches
The addition of the Quadrics kernel patches provides the following functionality:
The ioproc patch provides support for communicating from pageable memory.
The ioproc patch avoids the need to lock down memory used in inter-process communication; the Quadrics libraries will do this automatically if the ioproc patch is not installed.
The ioproc patch supports use of mmap/munmap when alocating communication buffers.
The ptrack patch provides job containers for the processes in a parallel jobs; this simplifies cleanup and accounting operations in RMS and third party resource managers. |
qsnetpatches
The patch files are provided in kernel version specific, qsnetpatches, Open Source tar archives. Users should read the Quadrics Linux Kernel Integration document for intructions on how to apply the patches and build a patched Linux kernel. The Quadrics Linux Kernel Integration document is also included in text or html format as a README in the qsnetpatches tarball.
The QsNet patches are provided "as is" without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Please see the Support Overview page for information about purchasing support for Quadrics software.
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Downloading Quadrics QsNet software
In order to download the software on this page you will need to request a username and password from Quadrics support. This will allow us to keep you informed about changes and upgrades to the QsNet software.
Please send an email to support@quadrics.com requesting a password for the Open Source download area. |
QsNet Patches for Supported Linux Kernels
Tarballs containing the QsNet kernel patches are provided for the following distributions and versions.
A complete tarball of all of these is downloadable from the main Software download page. |
Plans for supporting new kernels can be seen on the Quadrics Linux Kernel Roadmap page.
The letters in the architecture boxes indicate the level to which each version has been tested on the particular architecture. The key is as follows:
S : Supported versions. Quadrics will provide support for this version to customers who have paid for software support.
T : Quadrics has verified that the patches apply correctly and that the resulting kernel boots and runs parallel programs.
N : Not tested but should work. |
Quadrics Linux Kernel Integration
Please read the Quadrics Linux Kernel Integration document which provides a guide to preparing and building a Linux kernel for use with Quadrics QsNet.
Note Current users should note that the process of applying the Quadrics kernel patches has been separated from building the Quadrics kernel modules in the 'Hawk' release. It is now recommended that the Quadrics kernel modules are built outside the Linux kernel.
There are two steps involved in preparing a Linux kernel for use with QsNet, applying the Quadrics kernel patches (mandatory for QsNet, optional but recommended for QsNetII) and building the Quadrics kernel modules (mandatory).
To patch or not to patch
QsNet hardware includes the unique ability to communicate from pageable virtual memory. This feature allows QsNetII systems to operate without locking down memory, but support for this feature requires a patch to the Linux kernel which requires the kernel to be rebuilt. The most recent releases of the Quadrics device driver modules provide support for use of the QsNetII (Elan4) hardware with standard, unpatched Linux kernels, but kernels for use with first generation product, QsNet (Elan3), must be patched and, even with QsNetII (Elan4), Quadrics would recommend that the kernel is patched for production use.
The addition of the Quadrics kernel patches provides the following functionality:
The ioproc patch provides support for communicating from pageable memory.
The ioproc patch avoids the need to lock down memory used in inter-process communication; the Quadrics libraries will do this automatically if the ioproc patch is not installed.
The ioproc patch supports use of mmap/munmap when allocating communication buffers.
The ptrack patch provides job containers for the processes in a parallel jobs; this simplifies cleanup and accounting operations in RMS and third party resource managers.
QsNetII users who want to evaluate Quadrics hardware without applying the Quadrics patches and rebuilding a Linux kernel or users who are running a Linux distribution/kernel version for which Quadrics do not supply a set of patches can choose not to apply the Quadrics patches. Users who wish to apply the Quadrics patches should select the appropriate qsnetpatches tarball from the QsNet Linux Kernel Patches page.
Quadrics Kernel Modules
Whether or not you have applied the Quadrics Kernel patches to your Linux kernel, you will need to build the Quadrics kernel modules against a Linux kernel source tree which exactly corresponds to the Linux kernel installed on the nodes into which you have installed the QsNet hardware.
The QsNet Kernel Modules are provided as Open Source and come in the form of a qsnetmodules tar archive. The source code for the QsNet kernel modules is released under the GNU General Public License.
These drivers are available from theSoftware Download Page.
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