Underworld

a long term geodynamics simulation platform

MPI Implementation Setup

What is an MPI implementation and do I need to install one?

StGermain-based codes such as Underworld require an implementation of the MPI-1 standard for parallel message-passing, even if you only intend to run the code in serial. Fortunately, there are several free implementations of MPI than run on all flavours of Unix. If you intend to run Underworld on your desktop or a commodity cluster that doesn't yet have an MPI implementation, you could install one of the following free implementations:

  • Mpich - a portable, open source MPI. Further information on MPICH is available at: http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/mpi/mpich/, including documentation and manual pages.
    • Mpich 2 - suitable for linux and recommended for MacSOX, for copies of Underworld downloaded on or after 17 January 2007
    • Mpich 1 - suitable for linux for all copies of Underworld. Not supported for MacOSX for copies of Underworld downloaded on or after 17 January 2007 (see mpich 2 above and OpenMPI below). Can be emerged on Gentoo (ssh) where it will install in /usr.
  • OpenMPI - For copies of Underworld prior to 17 January 2007, this is recommended for macs, compiles smoothly but takes quite a while to compile. Further information is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_MPI

If you already have an MPI implementation installed, you will need to set up some additional environment variables (see below).

Setting up Environment Variables and adding it to your path if you already have an MPI Installed

You will need to set up environment variables and add your MPI implementation to your path. Click on the links below for instructions on how to do this for MPICH2, MPICH1 and OpenMPI:

MPICH2

MPICH1

OpenMPI

-- WendyMason - 12 January 2010