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Sitting in a downtown traffic
jam is a frustrating experience; similar to computer users who
experience gridlock as they try to process the ever-increasing
data on their machine. Many engineers today encounter problems
with computer software applications competing for limited memory
to execute sophisticated operations. Although large enterprises
most likely possess the necessary computing power, systems often
exceed supply in some areas, while resources in other areas are
under-utilized. Funding, research assistance, facilities, and
equipment provided by NASA Ames Research Center, of Moffet Field,
California, enabled a technology solutions company, Veridian,
of Arlington, Virginia, to develop a flexible batch queuing and
job management system to handle these difficult technical tasks.
Veridian's Portable
Batch System (PBS) was the recipient of the 1997 NASA Space Act
Award for outstanding software. A batch system is a set of processes
for managing queues and jobs, whereas a batch server creates,
routes, executes, modifies, and deletes jobs. Without a batch
system, it is difficult to manage the workload of a computer
system.
By bundling
the enterprise's computing resources, the PBS technology offers
users a single coherent interface, resulting in efficient management
of the batch services. Users choose which information to package
into containers for system-wide use. PBS also provides detailed
system usage data, a procedure not easily executed without this
software. Ames implemented this state-of-the-art system to replace
their existing NQS (Network Queuing System), which was the first
UNIX-based batch scheduling system.
PBS operates
on networked, multi-platform UNIX environments. Veridian's new
version, PBS Pro,TM has additional features and enhancements,
including support for additional operating systems. Veridian
distributes the original version of PBS as Open Source software
via the PBS website. Customers can register and download the
software at no cost. PBS Pro is also available via the web and
offers additional features such as increased stability, reliability,
and fault tolerance.
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Veridian's PBS technology
offers users a single coherent interface, complete with a usage
data log for ultimate efficiency. |
A company
using PBS can expect a significant increase in the effective
management of its computing resources. Tangible benefits include
increased utilization of costly resources and enhanced understanding
of computational requirements and user needs. The user-friendly
system also reduces dependency on system administrators and operators,
allowing them to focus their attention on more relevant activities.
The system facilitates expandability by supporting the distribution
of production workloads across wide-area networks (WANs), in
addition to the logical organization of physically separate computing
systems.
Veridian's system
has proved a big success for many large corporations including
the Numerical Aerospace Simulation (NAS) Facility. After installation
of PBS, the facility saw system utilization rates jump from 20
to 70 percent. David Lackner of the Ames Commercial Technology
Office calls the PBS software commercialization a true success
story. He said, It becomes evident to the American taxpayer that
their investment is paying off when products like PBS are spun
out and become commercially viable, solving a real need.
PBS Pro™ 5.0 is a trademark
of Veridian.
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