Orphaned Cluster Support 2 of 2
If you have selected an option that requires a software upgrade to your cluster, Aspen will take a disaster recovery image of the current cluster first, utilizing our Aspen Utilities Package. These images, if unclassified, will be transferred back to Aspen or kept by the engineer if one is on-site, and used as a baseline configuration guide and as localization parameters for the upgraded cluster. There are three ways in which Aspen can perform the cluster upgrade itself.
- On-site: Aspen can deploy an engineer to your site to perform the upgrade. The engineer will arrive with a baseline image that he or she can then deploy from their laptop. Normally the upgrade images are contained on the engineers laptop, and the laptop can be used to PXE boot the entire cluster and perform an upgrade. If the cluster is in a classified environment and laptops are not allowed, the engineer may utilize DVD or CD-ROM media to upgrade the master node first. After the upgrade is performed, the Aspen engineer will localize the cluster to operate in your environment. This option is preferred, because all local site integration is accomplished by our engineer while they are there, little local site labor is needed, and your cluster is returned to operation more quickly than via other upgrade methods.
- Unit Shipping: In many cases where the complexity of the upgrade is not high, remote access is allowed, and extended downtime is acceptable, you can ship a single master node and one or more nodes of each discrete node type back to Aspen for an upgrade at our engineering facility. You will be asked to perform remote testing and system certification and approve the baseline configuration prior to the units being shipped back to your location. After the upgraded units are returned and re-installed, Aspen engineers will use you or other local site resources as eyes and hands to upgrade the remainder of your cluster.
- Remote Upgrade: This is the least desirable option, and we do not often recommend it. In this case, Aspen will walk you through upgrading the master with an image we provide. We must have remote access to your cluster to even consider this option, and many customers find that the level of technical interaction and time required of them is undesirable.
Aspen must treat each Orphaned Cluster upgrade or support process on a case by case basis due to the inherent complexity and possible pitfalls of upgrading or taking over maintenance of a previously unknown hardware and software configuration. In almost all cases, proprietary software or hardware configurations offered by the previous vendor will not be supported due to the lack of technical documentation and access to original source code or hardware design.
It is important to know that your vendor will be there for you in the future. Aspen Systems has been around for many years, and many of our customers have been with us for a very long time. At Aspen, our focus and specialty is High Performance Computing, and our customers value us for that focus.
Contact Aspen Systems sales or call 1-800-992-9242 for more information about supporting or upgrading your orphaned cluster.
