Welcome to

KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4)

As you can see, the site is under construction. I know the page is ugly as sin, but hey, we're about KluStriX, not about fancy web pages. We need to put a nice logo up there, where the guy digging is, and we need to put more useful information below.... Sigh... So much work to do, so little time.

So, what is KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4)?

It's not “yet another CD-based Linux distribution”. Actually, it really is(!), but it is intended primarily to be “the world's easiest-to-install, completely pre-packaged Debian-based distribution complete with built-in openMosix clustering”! In other words, we are seeking a happy medium between the slowness and inflexibility/lack of upgradeability of CD-based distros and the complexities and difficulties of standard hard-disk-based distributions. Our goal is to offer a distribution that:

1. Features a very easy installation.

2. Offers a high-performance option

3. Is fairly General Purpose (as opposed to specialized)

4. Is very easy to repair/replace/upgrade

5. Is FREE

6. Is convenient

7. Did I mention FREE?

KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) attempts to meet all these goals as follows:

1. Two installation options: One: Install nothing—just run it from the CD! Two: Use the simple “knx-hdinstall” program to prepare a hard disk, answer a few simple questions and then just wait a few minutes for the installation to complete! No complex package lists to sort through, no mistakes made picking packages, no questions about “does this work with that program?”, no complex networking questions or the like. As an example, I built my entire cluster of 7 machines in less than two hours with two CD's of KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) and that includes running up and down stairs!

2. Let's face it: CDROM drives are slow. When they need to access data or program code from multiple locations on the same CD, they can be painfully slow. KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is no exception—it has no special features (other than the option to boot with DMA for the CDROM drive enabled) that make it any faster than most any other CDROM-based distribution of any operating system. What that means is that if you want a node that does little more than CPU-intensive compute work, the CDROM-based solution is probably just fine. If, on the other hand, you want a fast workstation or server that can ALSO function as a cluster node—and optimally handle both CPU-intensive AND I/O-intensive task, then installing KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) on your hard disk will get you just that!

3. The list of packages included in KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is quite extensive, totaling, at last count, some 1195 items. Whatever it is you want or need, it's probably in there....

4. ...And if it isn't, obtaining the software you want is stunningly simple (and dependency-issue free!) using the Debian package manager “apt-get install <package-name>” By the same token, updates are possible through this utility (or through dpkg). Even “alien” is included for those wanting to install packages from another type of distro such as RedHat RPMs.
   
   When it comes to repairing or replacing a damaged system, KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is the ultimate repair disk. After all, just boot up the damaged system from the KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) CD, mount the damaged filesystems and do that ol' voodoo you do so well! (If worse comes to worst, and things are basically FUBAR, don't forget: knx-hdinstall takes only about 20 to 25 minutes to do a fresh installation!

5. KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) has the goal of being exclusively open source. That not only means no Byzantine license agreements in which you sign away your first born for the privilege of becoming an unwitting beta-tester for some corporate monolith, you also have the right to change, alter, or modify any of the included software, provided you adhere to the open-source license agreements provided therewith

6. KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is convenient: It all fits one one CDROM. No need for a box, heavy manuals, or the all-too-frequent (and decidedly unpleasant) discovery that CDROM 6 of a set of 8 is missing or has been stepped upon and broken. This physical convenience combines with the conveniences of a fast install for hard-drive-based systems, or no install at all, if you wish to run from the distribution CD. On top of that, the thing is its own built-in repair/replacement disk! What could be more convenient than that?

   

   Credit where Credit is Due:

   KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) wouldn't be possible without the following!

KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is based upon Wim Vandermissen's ClusterKNOPPIX 3.3, which is based, in turn, upon Klaus Knopper's “Knoppix” CD-based Linux distribution. Knoppix wouldn't be possible without Debian and openMosix.

It contains the same kernel 2.4.22-openMosix-2 #4 SMP, and most of the same packages. Even the CD it would fit on would be the same—same 5 inches, same strange plastic that makes horrid squeaking sounds when you rub two of them together (which you probably should not do).

We are proud to be hosted by the Ghana Unix Users Group, who has generously donated disk-space to host our distributions. Given what I have learned of Ghana in the small amount of research I did on the country, I am proud to be hosted here. Indeed, Ghana stands for freedom in more ways than once as its people have struggled long and hard—and continue to do so-- to make their country a true “home of the free and land of the brave!” You can learn more about current affairs in Ghana here and about it's history here.

So, why did I bother?

1. Wim is concentrating primarily on building his ClusterKNOPPIX as a CDROM-based distribution.

2. Certain packages that I like are absent from ClusterKNOPPIX and some that I really don't need are present.

3. ClusterKNOPPIX does not include the KludgeKollection of scripts and other useful programs for Linux in general and openMosix in particular.

KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) concentrates on:

1. Hard disk installation. While KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) will run just as well as a CD-based distro as Wim Vandermissen's ClusterKNOPPIX—upon which it is based, it performs at its best when installed on the hard disk. The hard disk installation takes about 20 minutes, about 15 of which are spent waiting for the files to copy, and is extremely simple—it's simply a matter of booting from the CD, running “knx-hdinstall” and answering a few questions.
   
   Since the KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) CD is a fully operable Linux “installation”, it not only can function in that capacity, it also can function as, essentially, the Ultimate Repair Disk. It has everything you need to repair a damaged hard disk installation, whether it be simply fixing a fouled up EXT3 partition, reformatting a partition, or just completely redoing the entire installation from scratch! Indeed, KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is a tool that no systems administrator should be without!

2. So what packages have I added (January 27, 2004 release of KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4))

   Packages	What does it do?	Why did I bother?
   gman, yelp	Online help—graphical man pages	I liked yelp—easier to find stuff, and I figured gman was pretty nice, too.
   aterm	Another TERMinal emulator	Small, fast and stable and, unlike the terminal emulators that come with ClusterKNOPPIX, it has a scrollbar that actually makes sense!
   wmtop, wmnd, wmsmpmon, wmcpuload, wmmemmon, wmcalclock, wmnet, wmacpi, wmapm, wmix, wmxmms	Collection of my favorite “docapps” (Dock Applets) for my favorite desktop, the small, sleek, and VERY fast WindowMaker.	Handy for keeping track of whats up on your WindowMaker desktop: Monitor memory/swap usage, network usage, TOP, battery usage on most laptops, and control the mixer/soundboard. Includes the XMMS dock applet.
   openOffice.Org 1.1	Essentially Microsoft Office without the “Microsoft” and without the bugs!	The original ClusterKNOPPIX comes with Koffice, the office suite for use with the KDE desktop. I prefer openOffice.org because it is more stable, and because it is not “tied in” to one desktop. Also, I think the Microsoft compatibility is far better. BTW: This web page was generated with openOffice.org!
   myspell-en-us	Spelling dictionary	Used by various apps such as openOffice.org
   bladeenc, ogmtools	BladeEnc makes .MP3's out of CD's. Ogmtools makes the open-source version of MP3's, namely .OGG or .OGM files out of CD's.	Both are included (In the hard-disk install of KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4), bladeenc is available as a Debianized RPM in /root/bin). I included both, because though I much prefer the open-source philosophy behind ogmtools, bladeenc just plain works better on the cluster (It load-balances more evenly.)
   ddd	The debugger mostly for C code.	Why it wasn't in the original is a mystery to me....
   xmms-crossfade	Drop-in sound output library for XMMS.	My P4-based Sony laptop has problems with choppy sound-playback due to the issues with the Intel integrated 845 chipset and a somewhat flawed i810 chipset driver. This output library seems to nicely circumvent these problems in a way that libOSS and Alsa can only dream about. And it fades beautifully from one song to the next!
   xcdroast	For burning CDs	Nicely done GUI CDBurner interface. Lots easier than remembering a bunch of command-line switches for mkisofs and cdparanoia.... I use xcdroast to master KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4).
   gftp	Gnome FTP, or maybe Gnu FTP. Anyway, a nice graphical FTP client.	If ya have ta ask....! Handles subdirectories elegantly....
   Probably a few others I forgot to mention	No doubt	Surprises are nice! (Usually)

   
   What did I remove?
   Most of Koffice, all the KDE “Locale” files (115 MB right there!), most of the games, and several of the “PIM” programs. Don't worry: I left the basic KDE desktop intact for those of you who prefer it. But I won't guarantee that I will continue to do this. I have a strong preference for the small, fast, and capable WindowMaker, and I figure that stripping out KDE completely will leave me close to 200 MB to play with and that's mighty tempting!

3. Did I add anything else?
   Well, it's called “KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4)” with a “K” instead of “ClusTriX” with a “C” for a reason: That “K” stands for the Kludge Kollection, which is a collection of useful patches, scripts and utilities that have been created for use with Debian-based Linux distros in general and ClusterKNOPPIX and KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) in particular. These utilities are pre-installed on KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) in both the CD and hard-disk installed versions. Details regarding these utilities are available at http://kludgekollection.lafeyette.net

FAQs

1. How big is the ISO?
   The current version is about 610 MB. When installed on your hard disk, KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) will occupy about 2 GB.

2. Why is the file called [klustrix-version_so_and_so].img and not .iso?
   That is the default output format generated by my particular imaging software. Do not worry about it—the .img file works just like an .iso file, and you would burn it as you would the .iso file.

3. What are those two other files, klustrix.toc and klustrix-01.xinf, that appear on the site?
   Those are index files. I had checked the box on my imaging software to “generate a table of contents” for the image. The two files are there for those who might want to read them and know more about the image, its size, type, favorite color, and so on. Neither file, to my knowledge, is necessary to the creation of a CD from the image file.

4. Do I need to partition my disk before installing KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) on it?
   Depends: KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) hard disk installations require at least two to three GB of disk space in the form of a free partition. If you have one available, you can use it. If not, you will need to make one. You will also want to have a partition for swap space. (KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) does not require a swap space, but using one is strongly recommended, especially in low memory situations.)

5. How much computer “horse-power” does KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) require?
   I never really investigated the minimum requirements, but I have heard of people running ClusterKNOPPIX, upon which KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is based, in as little as 64 MB of RAM. Obviously, graphical front ends are not really an option in such a low memory configuration, but it may be enough for a minimal compute-node to a cluster. Personally, I have tried KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) on a Cirix 233 (About equivalent to a Pentium at 150 Mhz) with 80 MB of RAM. It did run, but was not particularly fast by a long shot. I would think that, to get any really useful work done, you will want to have at least a 300 Mhz Pentium II class processor and 128 MB of RAM. Double that if you want to use a heavy-duty GUI like KDE. The basic node upon which I run KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) here is a Pentium III 800 Mhz with 320 MB RAM, and it runs quite well on that.

6. Do I really need swap?
   Cluster nodes need swap. They will run without it, but imagine if you started a half dozen processes of 200 MB each on a node with 512 MB RAM and no swap space. When those processes migrate home (for whatever reason), they will quickly fill up that node's memory, and, in all likelihood, the node will crash as a result, since, lacking swap-space, it cannot take advantage of virtual memory. So, yes, you need swap, unless you do not intend to ever run very large or very many tasks on your cluster or do not intend to use your computer as a compute-node on a cluster. I recommend that you have as much swap space as you would need to accommodate the largest number of big processes you would ever run, e.g. in the above example, 1200 MB of swap-space would be a bare minimum. Double that would be a smart move. Most, if not all, of my nodes have about 3 to 4 times their maximum RAM in swap space.

7. openOffice.org doesn't seem to run/stay configured when I run KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) from the CD.
   The .deb for openOffice.org IS installed on the CD version, but the first time it is run, openOffice.org needs to set stuff up for your user account (Most probably the default “knoppix” user if you boot from the CDROM). I honestly forgot to run the setup of this account as knoppix before mastering the CD, so it will probably need to be run each time this version of KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is run from the CD. Fortunately, however, you should have no trouble with the hard disk install, as openOffice.org runs normally (including first-time set-up) for each person who runs it from the hard disk installation of KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4).)

8. Where does the name “KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4)” come from?
   Originally, it was going to be “KlusterKNOPPIX”, but Wim Vandermissen and I felt that that was too close to the name of his own project, ClusterKNOPPIX, so I needed a new name. I wanted something short, that suggested “cluster”, “Unix/Linux”, and the “KludgeKollection” utility suite (the installation of which is one of the primary features of this project), so I came up with “KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4)” “K comes from “Knoppix”, and the “L” from Linux. Together, the three letters, “KLU” also represent “KludgeKollection”, and with the following “st(r)”, can be seen as the word “Klustr” or “Cluster”. the “IX” is an homage to the last two letters of “UNIX”. As an added bonus, the middle five letters, “lustr” could also be carefully misinterpreted as “lustre” as in “light or bright”. So, there you go. After all that, by the way, I do reserve the copyright to the name “KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4)” as well as its entirely arbitrary capitalization to myself according to the standard open source copyright agreements.

9. Is anyone using it? Is it reliable?
   At present, KlusTriX (Version 3.3-02262k4) is running on my cluster, Hydra. There are a total of seven nodes, of which five are full-time cluster members, and two are part-time members. It has been running since its installation on January 27 or 28, 2004. I might also mention that I use KlustriX as my standard desktop of choice, whether or not the machine in question is going to participate in a cluster. So far, it has proven extremely reliable—aside from stupid user errors, I have not had any problems with it.