Geant4 distributed computing for compact clusters

Brian P. Harrawood; Greeshma A. Agasthya; Manu N. Lakshmanan; Gretchen Raterman; Anuj J. Kapadia

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2014.07.014

Geant4 distributed computing for compact clusters

Brian P. Harrawood, Greeshma A. Agasthya, Manu N. Lakshmanan, Gretchen Raterman, Anuj J. Kapadia

Duke University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new technique for distribution of Geant4 processes is introduced to simplify running a simulation in a parallel environment such as a tightly coupled computer cluster. Using a new C++ class derived from the Geant4 toolkit, multiple runs forming a single simulation are managed across a local network of computers with a simple inter-node communication protocol. The class is integrated with the Geant4 toolkit and is designed to scale from a single symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) machine to compact clusters ranging in size from tens to thousands of nodes. User designed 'work tickets' are distributed to clients using a client-server work flow model to specify the parameters for each individual run of the simulation. The new g4DistributedRunManager class was developed and well tested in the course of our Neutron Stimulated Emission Computed Tomography (NSECT) experiments. It will be useful for anyone running Geant4 for large discrete data sets such as covering a range of angles in computed tomography, calculating dose delivery with multiple fractions or simply speeding the through-put of a single model.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	11-17
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	764
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.07.014
State	Published - Nov 11 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Beowulf
Distributed computing
Geant4
Monte Carlo
NSECT
Parallel computing

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10.1016/j.nima.2014.07.014

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title = "Geant4 distributed computing for compact clusters",

abstract = "A new technique for distribution of Geant4 processes is introduced to simplify running a simulation in a parallel environment such as a tightly coupled computer cluster. Using a new C++ class derived from the Geant4 toolkit, multiple runs forming a single simulation are managed across a local network of computers with a simple inter-node communication protocol. The class is integrated with the Geant4 toolkit and is designed to scale from a single symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) machine to compact clusters ranging in size from tens to thousands of nodes. User designed 'work tickets' are distributed to clients using a client-server work flow model to specify the parameters for each individual run of the simulation. The new g4DistributedRunManager class was developed and well tested in the course of our Neutron Stimulated Emission Computed Tomography (NSECT) experiments. It will be useful for anyone running Geant4 for large discrete data sets such as covering a range of angles in computed tomography, calculating dose delivery with multiple fractions or simply speeding the through-put of a single model.",

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author = "Harrawood, {Brian P.} and Agasthya, {Greeshma A.} and Lakshmanan, {Manu N.} and Gretchen Raterman and Kapadia, {Anuj J.}",

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doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2014.07.014",

language = "English",

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AU - Harrawood, Brian P.

AU - Agasthya, Greeshma A.

AU - Lakshmanan, Manu N.

AU - Raterman, Gretchen

AU - Kapadia, Anuj J.

PY - 2014/11/11

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AB - A new technique for distribution of Geant4 processes is introduced to simplify running a simulation in a parallel environment such as a tightly coupled computer cluster. Using a new C++ class derived from the Geant4 toolkit, multiple runs forming a single simulation are managed across a local network of computers with a simple inter-node communication protocol. The class is integrated with the Geant4 toolkit and is designed to scale from a single symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) machine to compact clusters ranging in size from tens to thousands of nodes. User designed 'work tickets' are distributed to clients using a client-server work flow model to specify the parameters for each individual run of the simulation. The new g4DistributedRunManager class was developed and well tested in the course of our Neutron Stimulated Emission Computed Tomography (NSECT) experiments. It will be useful for anyone running Geant4 for large discrete data sets such as covering a range of angles in computed tomography, calculating dose delivery with multiple fractions or simply speeding the through-put of a single model.

KW - Beowulf

KW - Distributed computing

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KW - Monte Carlo

KW - NSECT

KW - Parallel computing

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ER -

Geant4 distributed computing for compact clusters

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Keywords

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