Version 5.3.02 - Serendipity Software

Clustering
Clustering is the ability to share the workload of processing jobs across multiple devices. Slaves or cluster nodes can be
installed on other machines on the network and jobs can be sent to them from the Master for processing.
The Clustering application allows you to add and manage these cluster nodes. They can be enabled for use in imaging,
rendering or both.
As a node device starts up, its speed is calculated. When a job is submitted
for processing, the Master machine has priority as no network traffic is
required. If the Master is busy processing another job, the job can be sent
to the fastest available node. The node processes the job and once
completed, sends it back to the Master. It is then ready to accept another
job. Nodes can be installed on any machine on the network.
Running a Cluster Node requires a separate Veripress dongle. If you have extra Veripress dongles, any Server can act as
a node if it is started as a Cluster Node (see “The Veripress Server” section for more information).
Note: In this mode, the Server can only be used as a Node (slave) for another Server. It is recommended that the
database be backed-­‐up and job queues cleared before a Veripress Server is started as a Cluster Node. This avoids any
conflicts with existing job IDs or settings.
Master Panel
This panel displays information about the Master Server machine.
• Product – The Veripress software in use.
• Version – The Server software version.
• Hostname – The network name of the Master Server.
• IP Address – The network IP address of the Server.
• Speed – The relative speed of the Server, calculated by Veripress.
• Processors – The number of CPUs in the Server machine.
• Platform – The operating system/kernel version of the software.
• Process Imaging/Rendering/Schedule Last – Check whether the Master Server is to perform any Imaging or
Rendering Jobs. The Schedule Last option allows nodes to have priority over the Master when jobs are
processing. This is advantageous when polling large RIPs, as it allows the Master to concentrate on gathering
the list of jobs and displaying them.
Cluster Nodes
This list shows nodes that are available and running on the network. Information about each node is displayed in the
window. Online nodes are displayed in green; offline nodes in red.
The following sort columns can be selected using the contextual (right click) menu on the column header bar in the
Cluster Node panel. Columns can be reordered by dragging and dropping them into the desired order, or by using the
Configure Headers option in the contextual menu.
The sort options are:
• IP address – The network IP address of the Node. Checkboxes become available to enable the node and select if
it is to be used for Imaging and/or Rendering tasks. Once enabled, the Master handles the clustering in the
most efficient manner possible.
• Hostname – The network name of the Node.
• Speed – The relative speed of the Node calculated by Veripress.
• Platform – The operating system/kernel version of the Node machine.
• CPUs – The number of CPUs in the Server machine.
• Product – The Veripress software being used for the Node.
• Version – The Server software version of the Node.
• Processing Pool – Optionally choose a Pagesetup Pool (see the Workbench – Pagesetup Pool section) for which
the Node will perform image and render tasks.
• Image – Shows the number of simultaneous Imaging tasks that can be performed by the Node. Click on the field
to change the number.
Serendipity Software -­‐ Veripress User Manual – Version 5.3.02
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