Pixar Big on Linux Clusters - Mac, Not so Much
Pixar Big on Linux Clusters - Mac, Not so Much
by , 3:55 PM EDT, August 15th, 2008
Pixar has been traditionally big on using using Linux servers for their RenderMan Pro Server software. Even though the company was developed by Steve Jobs and later sold to Disney, Mac servers as cluster nodes are not widely used, according to Computerworld on Friday. There are multiple reasons for that.
Eric Lai recently wrote about how Microsoft is moving aggressively into compute clusters, and after questions from readers, looked deeper into the situation regarding Linux and Mac OS X
While RenderMan does indeed run on both Linux and Mac OS X, Linux is the preferred platform according to one the author's sources. [RenderMan Server is] "certainly used extensively on OS X workstations...very few people run RenderMan on OS X clusters," the source said.
"Technically, OS X is very well suited [for clustering] but it does not seem to have made much headway," the source added.
One reason cited for the Linux preference is that Xserves are much more expensive than white box Linux servers. However, another reason not cited in the article is that cluster operations often require subtle and technically difficult changes to the Mac OS X kernel. This reporter is has been exposed to situations in which changes required for better cluster operations at Apple took a back seat to consumer oriented concessions. On the other hand, experienced computer scientists can simply recompile the Linux kernel to suit their needs when necessary.
That tinkerability of Linux is great for rendering and scientific computing but bad for corporations who want a steady, solid, immutable kernel for stability in their architecture.
Microsoft has plans to move into the small cluster space with "Windows HPC Server" but is likely to be greeted with the same reaction as Mac OS X because of its closed architecture.
So long as PC boxes are cheap, Linux is free and tinkerable, movie studios and scientists are generally going to use Linux as their preferred large cluster platform. Apple knows that and isn't likely to change its products, tending to focus more on the small business and scientific desktop where the advantages and ROI of Xserve and Mac OS X shine.
Observer Comments
And yet Virginia Tech's X supercomputer runs Mac OS X.
Quote"Technically, OS X is very well suited [for clustering] but it does not seem to have made much headway"
People do what people are used to doing. Pixar is a good place to make a change. Jobs needs to give Disney/Pixar a tune-up...
OS X is kind of sluggish: Mach causes more per-event overhead than traditional UNIX and the result is an accumulation of delays that increases latency and hurts performance.
So not only is the XServe expensive, you need to install a traditional BSD or Linux on it to get the most out of it... and if you do that, why bother with an XServe?
I used to work there, but I quit when it became clear that Pixar has become an anti-Mac stronghold. They hate Macs with a passion and actively push employees to use the communistic Linux platform instead. It is sad, really, that a company with deep Apple roots has become so antagonistic to the system that made their very existence possible.
QuoteGuest wrote:
OS X is kind of sluggish: Mach causes more per-event overhead than traditional UNIX and the result is an accumulation of delays that increases latency and hurts performance.
And you have metrics to prove this?
Besides, a custom image rendering application would spend most of its time in userland than in the kernel. In which case, your point (assuming it's valid) would be moot.
Folks, you wouldn't do graphics editing on Linux, you wouldn't control a nuclear power plant with Windows and you wouldn't run a high performance cluster on OS X. Yeah, I'm sure you can find a few examples of people doing so, but there is a very good reason why Linux is #1 on clusters.
QuoteGuest wrote:
OS X is kind of sluggish: Mach causes more per-event overhead than traditional UNIX and the result is an accumulation of delays that increases latency and hurts performance.
So not only is the XServe expensive, you need to install a traditional BSD or Linux on it to get the most out of it... and if you do that, why bother with an XServe?
Wow--that was really stupid. I feel stupider for having read it.
You make me ashamed to be a guest, guest.
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Folks, you wouldn't do graphics editing on Linux, you wouldn't control a nuclear power plant with Windows and you wouldn't run a high performance cluster on OS X.
Folks, there's a prime example of someone choosing not to be confused with the facts.
Did you miss the posting near the top that mentioned Virginia Tech's supercomputer? At the time it was built, it was the third fastest supercomputer in the world yet cost just a small fraction of either of the top two. It ran Mac OS X.
QuoteYeah, I'm sure you can find a few examples of people doing so, but there is a very good reason why Linux is #1 on clusters.
Yep, just like there's a "good reason" why Windows is #1 on the desktop...
Sat Aug 16, 2008 12:03 pm Subject: Re: OS X is kind of sluggish
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
So not only is the XServe expensive, you need to install a traditional BSD or Linux on it to get the most out of it... and if you do that, why bother with an XServe?
Trying to find a dual quad-core 3GHz Xeon server of the same specs for less. Maybe you can point one out?
Or are you just assuming that it is more expensive?
Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:05 am Subject: Re: OS X is kind of sluggish
Actually, I think Guest is right. OS X has been shown to have some major overhead in thread/process dispatching compared to Linux. I'm not sure that would make a big different in this case, though (I don't know enough about how RenderMan works to even guess).
A little quick Googling reveals a few benchmarks:
Big gap in http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2436&p=8
Smaller gap here, after tweaking OS X a bit: http://sekhon.berkeley.edu/macosx/intel.html
Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.
Recent Headlines - Updated July 5th
- Fri, 10:29 AM
- News - Apple Warns of Learning Interchange Security Breach
- 7:30 AM
- News - Happy Fourth of July!
- Thu, 6:07 PM
- TMO Scoop - Psystar Moves to Drop Bankruptcy Ahead of Apple Legal Battle
- 5:37 PM
- News - Uncomfirmed Reports Say Apple & Nvidia On The Outs
- 4:57 PM
- News - Microsoft Sick Over Barf Ad
- 4:09 PM
- Product News - KRK Ships R6 Passive Studio Monitor for Recording
- 3:45 PM
- John Martellaro's Blog - Particle Debris (week ending 7/2) Juiced, Joost and Goosed
- 3:12 PM
- Product News - ExactScan 2 Pro Released
- 1:56 PM
- Deal Brothers - Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive: $324.00 Delivered
- 12:46 PM
- TMO Appearances - TMO Appearances Jeff Gamet Shares iPhone Apps on MacJury
- 10:41 AM
- Product News - Art Text 2.2 Adds New Templates, Layer Options [Updated]
- 10:04 AM
- Hot Forum Topic - Deciphering Mac Sales
The Mac Observer Reader Specials
- Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
Other World Computing: Big Deals on Big LCDs: 23" 'TrueHD' up to 2048x1152 + USB2 Hub & WebCam $279.99. Specials on 20" to 30" from $167.99. Freight from only $3.95! 
If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Full Tilt Poker for Mac. This Full Tilt Poker bonus code does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!
RamJet Memory: MacBook and MacBook Pro 4GB kits for $57.99! Mac Pro 4GB Kits $99.99! iMac and Mac mini 4GB Kits for $57.99! 1TB SATA Hard Drives for $109.99! Click hereFor the latest Apple products use Ciao, a price comparison website, to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate mobile phones like the Apple iPhone.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
