Workstation Networks with the ch_p4 device

Many users of mpich will be using a Beowulf cluster, typically running Linux (Windows NT users should consult the installations instructions for the NT version of mpich). The ch_p4 device is one of two devices that are appropriate for Beowulf and other clusters; the other is the ch_p4mpd device described in the installation and user's guide for that device.

Linux

The ch_p4 device will be chosen by default. Using shared memory when the configure option -comm=shared is given is supported as of mpich version 1.2.0 through Unix System V IPC's. Use of mmap is not supported, as Linux does not support the use of MAP_SHARED with MAP_ANONYMOUS. Because the System V IPC's cannot (by design) reliably be freed by an application when it is done with them, you may want to use the cleanipcs command provided with mpich.

FreeBSD

For a network of PC's running the FreeBSD version of Unix:

    configure --with-device=ch_p4 --with-arch=freebsd 

SGI multiprocessor

(such as an Onyx or Origin 2000), using the shared memory for fast message-passing

    configure --with-device=ch_p4 -comm=shared 

Use --with-arch=IRIX to force 32 bit pointers and --with-arch=IRIX64 to force 64 bit pointers.

Sun SunOS

    configure --with-device=ch_p4 --with-arch=sun4 

Mpich now requires a compiler that supports ANSI C prototypes. The old SunOS bundled C compiler does not support prototypes. If you need a compiler that supports prototypes, we recommend the GNU C compiler (gcc).

Sun Solaris

    configure --with-device=ch_p4 --with-arch=solaris 

Compaq Alpha

    configure --with-device=ch_p4 --with-arch=alpha 

Fujitsu

For a network of Fujitsu M780s running UXP/M, the following options have been tested:

    setenv FC frt 
    configure --with-arch=UXPM --with-device=ch_p4 \ 
        -fflags="-Oe,-Uep -Eml -Aabe" \ 
        -with-mpe -mpedbg -prefix=/usr/local/mpi \ 
        -tcldir=/usr/local -tkdir=/usr/local -wish=/usr/local/bin/wish 

HP HPUX

For a network of HP's, including the mpe library but leaving out of it the MPE X graphics routines:

    configure --with-device=ch_p4 -arch=hpux --with-mpe -no_mpegraphics