Configuring Server Environment Using *.pvx XML Files

When running pvserver/pvdataserver or pvrenderserver on a cluster, users may want to configure some environment variables eg. DISPLAY in case of multi-headed nodes for the processes. This can be done using the PVX configuration XML file.

Where to specify this?

• pvx file can be specified as the last command line argument for any of the server processes.
• Typically the pvx file is specified for all the executables whose environment is being changed using the pvx file. In case of data-server/render-server configuration, if you are setting up the environment for the two processes groups, then the pvx file must be passed as a command line option to both the executables: pvdataserver and pvrenderserver.
• When running in parallel the file is read on all nodes, hence must be present on all nodes.

Structure

<source lang="xml"> <?xml version="1.0" ?> <pvx>

 <Process Type="server|dataserver|renderserver">
   <Machine proc_id="<num>"
            Environment="DISPLAY=m1:0"
            LowerLeft="-1.0 -1.0 -1.0"
            LowerRight="1.0 -1.0 -1.0"
            UpperLeft="-1.0  1.0 -1.0">
   </Machine>
 </Process>

</pvx> </source>

• Only 2 vectors ([LowerRight - LowerLef] and [UpperLeft - LowerLeft]) are needed, the third vector is computed from these.

Cave Rendering

Instructions

• When configuring ParaView, turn MPI and ICET ON
• run the servers using the pvx file: mpiexec -np 2 pvserver cave.pvx
• start the client and connect to the servers.

Notes

• pvx file
  • See below an example of a cave configuration file

<source lang="xml"> <?xml version="1.0" ?> <pvx>

<Process Type="client" />
<Process Type="server">
 <Machine Name="Erna"
          Environment="DISPLAY=:0"
          LowerLeft="-1 -1 -2"
          LowerRight="1 -1 -2"
          UpperLeft="-1  1 -2" />
 <Machine Name="Erna"
          Environment="DISPLAY=:0"
          LowerLeft="1 -1 2"
          LowerRight="-1 -1 2"
          UpperLeft="1  1 2" />
 </Process>

</pvx> </source>

• • See vtkCaveRenderManager::ComputeCamera for more information on how the coordinates are used to configure the cameras
• the rendering on the server is full screen by default. If you want the windows to be smaller for debugging, set the environment variable PV_ICET_WINDOW_BORDERS=1 on the client machine.