Best Linux distro for crunching?

robl
robl
Joined: 2 Jan 13
Posts: 1709
Credit: 1454480783
RAC: 8785

Running Ubuntu 14.04 on 3

Running Ubuntu 14.04 on 3 machines utilizing either AMD or NVIDIA GPUs. No complaints. On the AMD machine I am using the distro's supplied AMD drivers.

CZ
CZ
Joined: 26 Aug 14
Posts: 4
Credit: 1292198
RAC: 0

I know nothing about Linux

I know nothing about Linux distros BUT I think the Linux distros used by the worlds top supercomputers are worth considering.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOP500#Architecture_and_operating_systems

You will see that most use:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cray_Linux_Environment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUSE_Linux_Enterprise_Server
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNK_operating_system

As for hardware they use see this
http://www.top500.org/lists/2014/06/

I think that the tens of thousands of IT professional employed in designing the worlds largest supercomputers would have chosen an operating system and hardware that is most appropriate in terms of efficiency, reliability, scalability, value for money, etc. (and they tend to choose Cray, SUSE, Red Hat, and CNK).

I know we are not building supercomputers, but these Linux distros are obviously very efficient and reliable (otherwise they wouldn't be used time and again by the worlds top IT professionals).

Donald A. Tevault
Donald A. Tevault
Joined: 17 Feb 06
Posts: 439
Credit: 73516529
RAC: 0

Odd that you should mention

Odd that you should mention Ubuntu and unexplained BSODs. . .

This machine that I'm using right now is loaded with Lubuntu 14.04, which is Ubuntu with the LXDE desktop interface. (I can't use regular Ubuntu, because I despise the Unity interface.)

This machine is a few years old, but it hasn't been used all that much, and I never had trouble with it before. But, a few months ago, a did a clean install of Lubuntu 14.04, and immediately started having issues with the machine just shutting itself down. There were no BSODs, mind you. It's just that the machine kept powering itself off. After a few weeks of that, a new OS update became available that seems to have fixed the problem. So, apparently, something in the operating system was causing the machine to just turn itself off.

But, that sort of thing is par for the course with 'buntu products. Their quality control has always been suspect, even with their "Long Term Support" releases.

Phil
Phil
Joined: 8 Jun 14
Posts: 579
Credit: 228493502
RAC: 0

RE: Odd that you should

Quote:

Odd that you should mention Ubuntu and unexplained BSODs. . .

This machine that I'm using right now is loaded with Lubuntu 14.04, which is Ubuntu with the LXDE desktop interface. (I can't use regular Ubuntu, because I despise the Unity interface.)

This machine is a few years old, but it hasn't been used all that much, and I never had trouble with it before. But, a few months ago, a did a clean install of Lubuntu 14.04, and immediately started having issues with the machine just shutting itself down. There were no BSODs, mind you. It's just that the machine kept powering itself off. After a few weeks of that, a new OS update became available that seems to have fixed the problem. So, apparently, something in the operating system was causing the machine to just turn itself off.

But, that sort of thing is par for the course with 'buntu products. Their quality control has always been suspect, even with their "Long Term Support" releases.

This sort of thing is not unusual, probably some low level driver at the machine level is my guess, but my knowledge of things down at that level are fairly dated. Let's be honest, long dated.

I have settled on Linux Mint for my distro. My boxes have been crunching for a number of months now with no major problems other than, I'll use your word despise here, I despise anything AMD GPU running on Linux. Just not my cup of tea. Works fine for a bunch of crunchers out there, though. Most of the top machines are running AMD.

My 760 running in an i3 machine is doing 50k RAC, and the 550ti and 750 non ti both running on older E5400 machines, are both doing 25k RAC.

For comparison, power ratings from Nvidia web site:
760 - 170 watts
550ti - 116 watts
750 - 55 watts

Everything is running stock settings. No overclocking and such.

I'm really liking Maxwell right now, probably get some newer ones next year.

Phil

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.