Queue load-balancing/distributed batch processing and local rsh replacement system

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Queue is a load-balancing system that lets users control their remote jobs in an intuitive, transparent and nearly seamless way. This is done with local shell job control and signaling and with Queue's innovative proxy deamon mechanism. Queue can be used as a local replacement for rsh to hosts within a homogeneous cluster under single administrative control. Queue also supports the more traditional email-based load-balancing and distributed batch-processing facilities using a number of criteria to decide where to send jobs.

A number of exciting development projects to improve Queue under way. Instructions on submitting bug reports and adding patches to the archives may be found here, along with any late-breaking news stories.

GNU Queue is now a participating project on Sourceforge. Developers and interested on-lookers should go here for more info.

Queue currently supports GNU/Linux, HP-UX, SunOS, Solaris, IRIX, FreeBSD, and Digital Alpha OSF/1 Unix platforms. Requests for support on additional platforms should be sent to bug-queue@gnu.org.

Program and source code are released under the GNU General Public License.

Queue Resources:

• Stable Sources and Binaries
  • The latest stable version of the Queue source code can be found at Sourceforge.
    
• Development Sources

  • GNU Queue is now a participating project on Sourceforge. Developers and interested on-lookers should go here for more info. CVS is still as described below, but will be moved to Sourceforge shortly.

  • Checkpoint migration is in development pre-release! GNU Queue now can checkpoint migrate the 'vi' editor as well as numerous jobs, including multi-process ones. Note that this feature in the current version, when enabled via a ./configure switch at configuration time, is not yet a clean, bug-free version but a development pre-release for experienced users who want to experiment with checkpointing; if you download this version of GNU Queue it is assumed you know what you are doing.
    • In addition to the two forms of checkpointing supported, the latest versions of GNU Queue eliminate the need for a shared NFS directory and some of the associated quirks. Instead, information on jobs is passed directly via a TCP/IP protocol.
      • The latest pre-checkpointing development release can be checked out from the CVS repository "cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.queue.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/queue login" and hit return when asked for a password. to the CVS repository is available at http://cvs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi?cvsroot=queue. Note that these are the latest development copies of the sources and are, consequently, more likely not to work than to work.

        To grab a copy of the latest development sources, login anonymously to the CVS repository by running the following command on your local machine:

        cvs -d ":pserver:anonymous@cvs.queue.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/queue" login

        Just hit return when it asks for a password. Run:

        cvs -d ":pserver:anonymous@cvs.queue.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/queue" checkout queue

        to fetch the development sources into your current directory.

        If you make changes to the sources, it is easy to incorporate these back into the development respository. Users interested in obtaining write access to the CVS repository should join the development list and apply for a login.

        When you're done, logout of the repository: cvs -d ":pserver:anonymous@cvs.queue.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/queue" logout

    • On-line Documentation
      • The manual for Queue can be read on-line at http://www.gnuqueue.org/queue_man.
        
      • For up-to-the-minute development information, you can also check http://www.gnuqueue.org/queue-development.html Instructions on submitting bug reports and posting patches to the archives may be found here as well, along with any late-breaking news stories and the most current TO-DO list.
    • Bug tracker.
      • Bugs can now be reported formally via the GNU Queue bug tacker at Sourceforge.
      • Critical bugs and security holes (if any) should still be sent to bug-queue@gnu.org.
    • Public forums
      • Public forums on GNU Queue, other OpenSource development projects, and OpenSource in general are available on Sourceforge.
    • On-line usability survey
      • Provide feedback on the usability of GNU Queue at Sourceforge.
    • Mailing lists
      • Bugs, suggestions and fixes should be sent to bug-queue@gnu.org.
        
      • To subscribe to the Queue announcements mailing list queue-announce@lists.sourceforge.net click here. This is a low-volume list (less than four messages per year) announcing major releases of GNU Queue.
        
      • To subscribe to the Queue tips and developments list queue-developers@lists.sourceforge.net click here.
    • Misc Links
      • Our official homepage at the GNU project is at http://www.gnu.org/software/queue (less frequently updated).

    
    Queue Details:

    • Queue is an innovative, easy-to-use process load-balancing system and batch processing environment for homogenuous UNIX clusters.
    • Queue features a unique proxy daemon control system. When an interactive remote job is launched through Queue, a proxy daemon runs on the local end, simulating the job. This allows the user to control the remote process through local shell control as if it were running on the local machine. The user's local environment -- environmental variables, current directory, nice value, process limits, process exit value -- are completely replicated on the remote client.
    • Queue makes load-balancing resource-intensive process across a homogenuous network of workstations easy and intutitive for users.
    • At user option, Queue can also be used as a traditional networked batch processing system, with job output returned via mail or silently discarded.

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    Please send FSF & GNU inquiries & questions to gnu@gnu.org. There are also other ways to contact the FSF.

    Please send comments on these web pages to wkrebs@gnu.org, questions on Queue to bug-queue@gnu.org; send other questions to gnu@gnu.org.

    Copyright (C) 1998-2002 Werner G. Krebs, Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111, USA

    Verbatim copying and distribution is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.

    Updated: Last modified: Mon Dec 28 11:46 EST 1998

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