Apple Qmaster 2 and Compressor 2 (Distributed Processing Setup) - Manual (Page 7)

Preface Introduction to Distributed Processing 7
Basic Components of the Apple Qmaster Distributed
Processing System
While the Apple Qmaster software includes a few different applications (see Chapter 3,
“
The Interfaces ,” on page 29), as a whole it is part of a networked system that includes
the following basic components:
 Client(s): The computer or computers that use Compressor or Apple Qmaster to
submit jobs for distributed processing. Applications that can use Apple Qmaster
services for processing include Compressor 2, Shake, Alias Maya, and many UNIX
command-line programs.
 Apple Qmaster cluster, which contains:
 Service nodes: The computers that perform the processing of batches submitted
via Compressor or Apple Qmaster. A batch can include one or more jobs.
 Cluster controller: The software, enabled on a computer by means of the
Apple Qmaster pane in System Preferences, that divides up batches, determines
which service nodes to send work to, and generally tracks and directs the processes.
The client computer, the service nodes, and the cluster controller are often on separate
(but network-connected) computers, for the most rapid processing potential. However,
the cluster controller could be on a client computer or a service node. See “
Using One
Computer to Serve Two Distributed Processing Roles ” on page 22 for more information
on this scenario.
Following is a closer look at the part each component plays in the Apple Qmaster system.
Client computer
from which users work and
send jobs to the cluster
Cluster controller
manages the
distribution of
client’s jobs
across the cluster
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Service node
processes jobs
Cluster
(can contain multiple service nodes, but only one cluster controller)
UP01082PRE Page 7 Friday, March 18, 2005 4:42 PM