AlanSill - Network

Completed Power-over-Ethernet powered Radxa X2L 4-node mini-training-cluster build. The goal for this one was to build something...

Completed Power-over-Ethernet powered Radxa X2L 4-node mini-training-cluster build. The goal for this one was to build something inexpensive, self-contained, compact, and in a robust enclosure for better transportability and handling. The PoE adapters shown here are among a new set of products becoming available that can provide 12VDC USB-C power delivery (PD) at the needed power levels. These adapters and the GbE PoE switch are mounted to a small DIN rail attached to the top of the case.

This is an interesting one. It aims to provide among other goals K8s on targets that include "SLURM or HTCondor batch systems with...

This is an interesting one. It aims to provide among other goals K8s on targets that include "SLURM or HTCondor batch systems with Apptainer, Enroot, or Singularity, remote/on-demand virtual machines with any container runtime, remote Kubernetes clusters, and Lambda-like services" for "tasks that have a defined start and end." https://bsky.app/profile/dciangot.com/post/3ljdn7efc4227

That’s a DIN rail mounted on top of the UCTRONICS case, which has been modified to widen the side slots to provide access for the X2L...

That’s a DIN rail mounted on top of the UCTRONICS case, which has been modified to widen the side slots to provide access for the X2L boards. Similar mods on the other side allow access to the reset buttons.The boards are attached with M2 brass standoffs to a thin acrylic layer that is attached to the original UCTRONICS removable trays.

New test cluster in progress. It will be four PoE-powered Radxa X2Ls. The extra boxes on top next to the switch are the PoE to 12V PD...

New test cluster in progress. It will be four PoE-powered Radxa X2Ls. The extra boxes on top next to the switch are the PoE to 12V PD splitters.

Pretty proud of this one!

This is just fucking awful.

This is just fucking awful.

This is a correct use of the definition of the word "DOGE" meaning "to fuck something up arbitrarily, indiscriminately, and...

This is a correct use of the definition of the word "DOGE" meaning "to fuck something up arbitrarily, indiscriminately, and without reason."

That having been said, please view the request from @benanhalt at this link, who got DOGE'd from his job at the USDA and has skills to bring to the table. https://hachyderm.io/@benanhalt/114060255601101039

I'm with you, https://ssa.gov I'd like to report DOGE.

I'm with you, https://ssa.gov
I'd like to report DOGE.

The entire inner and even exterior dialogue surrounding the massive waste of time, energy, materials, and money by the large-scale computing...

The entire inner and even exterior dialogue surrounding the massive waste of time, energy, materials, and money by the large-scale computing industry right now seems to be “we know this is stupiid but people are buying it.”

Finally had time to build a decent back door for the 20-node Radxa X4 mini-cluster 10-inch rack. It's not perfect but it's much...

Finally had time to build a decent back door for the 20-node Radxa X4 mini-cluster 10-inch rack. It's not perfect but it's much better than our previous placeholder.

Good morning! On this International Day of #WomenInScience I'd like to express my strong support and thanks for women bringing their...

Good morning! On this International Day of #WomenInScience I'd like to express my strong support and thanks for women bringing their talents and dedication to this field. Every day should be such a day. In this odd time in which social forces would pull us backwards, this is important to reinforce.

The current situation with regard to the actions of the Trump administration can only be described as vandalism. If you'd like a...

The current situation with regard to the actions of the Trump administration can only be described as vandalism. If you'd like a historical reference, please see Wikipedia: Sack of Rome (455)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(455)

Elon Musk's plan for the US government seems to be exactly what he did to Twitter:1) Seize control2) Destroy most of the value3) Keep...

Elon Musk's plan for the US government seems to be exactly what he did to Twitter:
1) Seize control
2) Destroy most of the value
3) Keep the Nazis.
We cannot allow him to succeed, or even to proceed.

(And yes, I could have used power over Ethernet also for the GPU node if I had bought a switch with more PoE ports!)

(And yes, I could have used power over Ethernet also for the GPU node if I had bought a switch with more PoE ports!)

Also it's weird that I've been giving the dimensions in inches, although I'm just as comfortable with metric units, and for...

Also it's weird that I've been giving the dimensions in inches, although I'm just as comfortable with metric units, and for various reasons all of the screws and nuts used to hold this together are metric.

I may shorten the posts to lower the head node down about half an inch, as there is more clearance than is needed between the X4 nodes and...

I may shorten the posts to lower the head node down about half an inch, as there is more clearance than is needed between the X4 nodes and the DIN rail holding up the head node. All of the nodes are connected to the rails with easily removable spring-loaded standard DIN rail clips, which should make servicing the nodes easy when the time comes. I will also probably add another screw to the aluminum backer piece used to allow attaching these clips to the worker nodes to keep them firmly in place.

Mini-cluster with DIN rail mount, nearly complete. Palmshell (Radxa X4L) head node connected to four X4 worker nodes by 2.5 GbE, Jetson Orin...

Mini-cluster with DIN rail mount, nearly complete. Palmshell (Radxa X4L) head node connected to four X4 worker nodes by 2.5 GbE, Jetson Orin Nano gets connected at its maximum 1 GbE by a USB to Ethernet adapter, 1 GbE to the outside world. Each of the X4s has an Intel N100 CPU with 4 cores, as does the head node. It's very compact: 9" wide x about 6.5" high by 5" deep (7" if you count the space for the Ethernet cables). There are 3 power supplies also for the head node, GPU node, and PoE switch.

Here's the DIN rail mount mini-cluster idea in progress. I'm using standard metal DIN adapter clips and a small aluminum piece to...

Here's the DIN rail mount mini-cluster idea in progress. I'm using standard metal DIN adapter clips and a small aluminum piece to attach them to the Radxa X4 standard heat sink and fan. The Jetson Orin Nano Super development kit gets mounted on a standard DIN mounting plate that comes with its own adapter clip. There will be a head node and a 2.5 GbE PoE switch for the X4 worker nodes. No need for 2.5 GbE for the Orin since it is only 1 GbE. Later posts will show the full assembly.

Is it just me, or does the whole world of DIN rail mount accessories seem woefully underdeveloped?

Is it just me, or does the whole world of DIN rail mount accessories seem woefully underdeveloped?

I think we've received our first easily identifiable AI-authored /AI-assisted job application. It looks suspiciously like the text from...

I think we've received our first easily identifiable AI-authored /AI-assisted job application. It looks suspiciously like the text from the job announcement, just rearranged.

I'm beginning to get quite a bit upset that there are no US-based manufacturers of single board computers on the small scale for...

I'm beginning to get quite a bit upset that there are no US-based manufacturers of single board computers on the small scale for industrial automation and lightweight #SBC #HPC demo and training cluster building. Having started with Raspberry Pi and migrated to other processor choices, even the ones with #Intel chips are not turned into SBCs here, but by others overseas. This seems a huge hole in the Chips and Science Act for a domestic industry that's critical to IoT and automation in general.