Chapter 3. Application Environment Variables

The following environment variables are used by applications that run on IRIX systems. This chapter has the following sections:

3.1. MPT/MPI/PVM Variables

The Message Passing Toolkit (MPT) is a software package that supports parallel programming across a network of computer systems through a technique known as message passing. The Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) is used to support high-speed, internode communications between supported systems. The Message Passing Interface (MPI) is a component of the Message Passing Toolkit.

All environment variables for MPI are documented on the mpi(1) man page.

PVM_ARCH 

Specifies the architecture type. The following types are supported:

SGI32 

N32 ABI/MIPS III version using sockets

SGI32mips4 

N32 ABI/MIPS IV version using sockets

SGIMP64mips3 

64 ABI/MIPS III version using POSIX shared memory and sockets

SGIMP64 

64 ABI/MIPS IV version using POSIX shared memory and sockets

PVM_ROOT 

If software is installed in default locations, set this variable to /usr/array/PVM and the PATH variable to $PVM_TOOT/lib/$PVM_ARCH.

PVM_VMID 

Specifies the virtual machine ID.

NLB_SERVER 

Specifies the location of the NQE load balancer. This host is known as the master server. Your system administrator might have this set automatically in the nqeinfo file. If NQE load balancing is enabled on your system, it is used automatically by PVM. To disable NQE load balancing for PVM applications, set the NLB_SERVER environment variable to 0.


Note: Support for this environment variable is deferred on IRIX systems.

The default is the value in the nqeinfo file.

PVM_DEBUGGER 

Specifies the debugger script to use when pvm_spawn(3) is called with PvmTaskDebug set.

Default: $PVM_ROOT/lib/debugger

PVM_DPATH 

Specifies the path of the pvmd3(1) command or the startup script. If you use a shell (such as .kshrc) that does not automatically execute a startup script that sets PVM_ROOT on added hosts, you can set PVM_DPATH to the full or relative path of the pvmd startup script, such as $PVM_ROOT/lib/pvmd. This startup script automatically sets PVM_ROOT.

Default: $PVM_ROOT/lib/pvmd.

You can override this setting by using the dx=loc option in the host file.

PVM_EXPORT 

Names the environment variables that a parent task exports to its children by using the pvm_spawn(3) function. Multiple names must be separated by a colon.

No default.

PVM_ROOT 

Specifies the path where PVM libraries and system programs are installed. For PVM to function, this variable must be set on each PVM system. This is set automatically when you load the mpt module to access the Message Passing Toolkit software.

PVM_RSH 

Specifies that an alternative remote shell command, such as krsh (a Kerberos version of rsh), can be selected. PVM_RSH can specify the full path or relative path to the alternative remote command.

If using Array Services, default is /usr/sbin/arshell. If not using Array Services, /usr/bsd/rsh.

PVM_SHMEM_DIR 

Directory location of the POSIX shared memory files.

Default: /usr/tmp (only valid for SGIMP64 and SGIMP64mips3 architecture types)

PVM_SLAVE _STARTUP_TIMEOUT 

Specifies the length of time that the master daemon will wait for a slave daemon to make contact after the slave daemon is started.

Default: 60 seconds

PVM_VMID 

Sets the virtual machine identification (VMID) number for the host. This environment variable allows a host to be included in more than one virtual machine by using one pvmd3 command per virtual machine per host. The virtual machine number is appended to the file name of the PVM log and daemon socket files, so that they appear as pvml.uid.vmid and pvmd.uid.vmid.

The previous name of this variable is PVMJID. This name is supported in the MPT 1.3 release, but will not be supported in subsequent releases.

Default: 0


Note: This environment variable prevents IRIX PVM from interoperating with any implementation other than SGI IRIX PVM implementations.


PVMBUFSIZE 

Specifies the size of the shared memory buffer for each task and daemon.

See the INTRO_SHMEM(3) man page for details about shared memory (SHMEM) environment variables.

3.2. NQE/NQS

NQE is a product that lets users submit, monitor, and control batch requests for execution on an NQS server in an NQE cluster.

3.2.1. Variables Set by NQS

QSUB_HOME 

Path name of the home directory for the user who submitted the request.

QSUB_LOGNAME 

Login ID (user name) of the user who submitted the request.

QSUB_MAIL 

Path name of the mail box for the user who submitted the request.

QSUB_PATH 

Search path for commands for the user who submitted the request.

QSUB_TZ 

Time zone for the user who submitted the request.

QSUB_USER 

User name of the user who submitted the request.

NQE_SHEPHERD_PID 

Shepherd process ID (PID) of the job.

QSUB_HOST 

Host name of the NQS server.

QSUB_REQID 

Request identifier for the request.

QSUB_REQNAME 

Name of the request.

QSUB_WORKDIR 

Current directory when the request was submitted.

QSUB_NQC 

Host name of the NQE client.

TMPDIR 

Requests temporary directory, created by NQS.

ENVIRONMENT 

NQS sets the ENVIRONMENT environment variable to a value of BATCH. You can use this variable, for example, in .profile, .login, or .cshrc files to differentiate between interactive and batch sessions. This environment variable can be used to avoid performing terminal setup operations for a batch request. A benefit of NQS initiating the batch request as a login shell is that .profile, .login, or .cshrc scripts are run, and your environment is set up as expected.

3.2.2. Environment Variables Set by the LWS

NQEDB_CLIENTHOST 

Host from which the request was submitted.

NQEDB_ID 

Database name and the task ID (for example, nqedb.t123).

NQEDB_USER 

NQE database user name that owns the task (usually $LOGNAME).

3.2.3. NQE Environment Variables That Users Can Set

QSUB_QUEUE 

Names a specific queue to be used.

NQSATTR 

Lists attributes associated with the request.

NQSCHGINVOKE 

Specifies that NQS invoke one shell instead of two shells.

NQEINFOFILE 

Specifies the path name of the NQE configuration file, which is the nqeinfo file. If this is set, the values for all environment variables that are set within the nqeinfo file will be used. If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub). For more information about the nqeinfo variables, see the nqeinfo(5) man page.

NQE_GROUP 

Specifies a name associated with one or more job dependency events. If you do not set this variable, you must specify a group name on each cevent command line. NQS automatically exports the value of the environment variable if you set it, so you do not have to export all environment variables each time you submit the request. If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub).

NQE_DEST_TYPE 

Designates the destination of your request (either nqs or nqedb). If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub).

NQEDB_USER 

Designates the NQE database user name for a request being submitted to the NQE database. If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub).

NQS_PASSWORD_NEEDED 

Prompts for a password when you submit requests, request status, delete requests, or send signals to requests from the client. If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub).

NQS_SERVER 

Directs your request to run on a specified server or to communicate with the specified server. If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub).

NLB_SERVER 

Designates a specified host in your network on which the NLB software is located. This environment variable is used for system load displays. If you use the command line interface, this environment variable is effective only when using the client commands (cevent, cload, cqdel, cqstatl, and cqsub).

3.2.4. ILB Variables

You can set the following ILB (interactive load balancing) environment variables. For information about executing a load-balanced interactive command, see the ilb(1) man page:

ILB_USER 

Defines the login name to use on the remote system. This variable also alters the value of $USER in the ilbrc files. The default value is whatever $LOGNAME is set to be in your environment.

ILB_PROMPT 

A regular expression that identifies your prompt on a remote machine. The default value is "^.*\[%$#:\] $", which looks for any string ending with %, $, #, or :.

The NLB_SERVER environment variable can also be used when using the ilb environment variables; NLB_SERVER defines the machine name and port number of the NLB server.

To use NQE, you must set the following environment variables:

  • DISPLAY must be set to local_workstation_name:0 for the NQE graphical user interface (GUI) to work.


    Note: If your site has access control in place for using X Window System applications, contact your system administrator to determine if you need additional settings.


  • PATH must include the path name of the NQE commands. The default path name is /nqebase/bin. System administrators also must include /nqebase/etc in their PATH environment variable to use certain NQE administrator commands.

  • MANPATH must include the path name of the NQE man pages. The default name is /nqebase/man.

To verify that your site's path names are the NQE system default, use the following command:

% cd /nqebase/bin  

3.3. BusinessSuite Module for Oracle (DMO)

NSR_CLIENT 

The NSR_CLIENT environment variable indicates the NetWorker client resource to use for the recover session.

Default: Host from which the session is initiated, as indicated by getlocalhost().

NSR_COMPRESSION 

Indicates whether to compress the backup data as it is sent to the NetWorker server.

Default: FALSE.

NSR_DATA_VOLUME_POOL 

Indicates the volume pool to which datafiles should be backed up.

Default: BusinesSuite Module does not set a pool by default - if none is specified, the pool is selected by the NetWorker server based on its pool resources configuration.

NSR_DEBUG_FILE 

Indicates the full pathname and filename of the file where BusinesSuite Module for Oracle messages should be written. Message logs for BusinesSuite Module are separated from regular NetWorker messages.

Default: none

NSR_NO_BUSY_ERRORS 

Indicates if the savegroup should wait for a busy NetWorker server or fail immediately.

Default: FALSE. Wait for the NetWorker server to accept the connection.

NSR_SAVESET_EXPIRATION 

Sets the date (in getdate(3) format) when this save set will expire. By default, no explicit save set expiration date is used.

No default.

NSR_SERVER 

Indicates the hostname of the server BusinesSuite Module for Oracle should use for a save session.

Default: The most appropriate server, based on the index name and client name for the session. See also NSR_CLIENT.

3.4. Message System

NLSPATH 

The NLSPATH variable provides both the location of message catalogues, in the form of a search path, and the naming conventions associated with message catalogue files.

CFTIME 

Used to override the format of the time stamp produced by cftime.

MSG_FORMAT 

Used to format messages in the message system.

CMDMSG_FORMAT 

Used to format messages in the message system.

PAGER 

Specifies the type of pager used for online man page viewing.

Default: more -s.

3.5. ImageVision Library

IFL_DATABASE 

Specifies the file location where the IFL-supported image file formats are defined.

Default: ifl/src/ifl_database.

IL_ARENA_MAXUSERS 

Specifies the maximum number of threads that can share a multi-processing arena.

Default: 40.

IL_CACHE_FRACTION 

Specifies the amount of user memory reserved for the cache.

Default: .3 (30%).

IL_CACHE_SIZE 

Specifies the size of the cache.

Default: IL_CACHE_FRACTION.

IL_COMPUTE_THREADS 

Specifies the number of threads generated.

Default: the number of processors in the system.

IL_DEBUG 

Specifies the debug level.

Default: 0.

IL_HW_ACCELERATE 

Specifies if hardware is used to accelerate image processing.

Default: all enabled.

IL_HW_DISPLAY 

Specifies the X display used by IL to obtain a display connection which is then passed to XOpenDisplay().

IL_HW_RENDERER 

Overrides the return value of glGetString(GL_RENDERER) which forces IL to treat the display as a different type of renderer.

IL_MONITOR 

Specifies if all monitors are on.

Default: off. Monitors print messages when specific events occur.

IL_MONITOR_CACHE 

Specifies if a log entry is generated when the cache is used.

Default: off.

IL_MONITOR_COMPACTION 

Specifies if a log entry is generated when the cache is compacted.

Default: off.

IL_MONITOR_RESET 

Specifies if a log entry is generated when an operator resets.

Default: off.

IL_MONITOR_LOCKS 

Specifies if a log entry is generated each time a lock is created or destroyed.

Default: off.

IL_MP_ARENA_SIZE 

Specifies the size of the arena.

Default: 2 Mb.

IL_MP_LOCKS 

Specifies if concurrent access to IL data structures is allowed for threads.

Default: on.

IL_NUM_PBUFFERS 

Specifies how many pbuffers to try to allocate.

Default: 1. IL tries to get as many as it can up to this value.

IL_READ_THREADS  

Specifies the number of read threads used per processor to handle disk I/O.

Default: 1.

3.6. Performance Co-Pilot (PCP)

All environment variables are detailed on the PCPintro(1) man page. See that man page for the current list of environment variables.

3.7. IRIS Performer

IRIS Performer provides a programming interface with ANSI C and C++ bindings for creating real-time visual simulation and other interactive graphics applications.

The following environment variables are used with Performer:

PFPATH
 

A colon-separated list of directories in which to find Performer data files.

PFLD_LIBRARY_PATH, PFLD_LIBRARY{N32,64}_PATH
 

A colon-separated list of additional directories in which to find database loaders. These directories are searched before LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

PFNFYLEVEL
 

The maximum allowed of IRIS Performer print message. Use the following values: 1 (FATAL), 2 (WARN), 3 (NOTICE), 4 (INFO), 5 (DEBUG), 6 (FP_DEBUG) , 7 (INTERNAL_DEBUG).

PFSHAREDSIZE
 

The size (in bytes) of the shared memory arena to create.

PFSHAREDBASE
 

The address at which to place the shared memory arena.

PF_LPOINT_BOARD
 

Pretend there is a calligraphic light point board for calligraphic debugging.

PFXDEBUG
 

Turns on X Syncrhonization for debugging. Very slow, but helpful if you are exiting with X Errors. Setenv PFXDEBUG 1, use dbx to check the program, breakpoint in exit, run, look at stack trace when it stops.

PFMACHTYPE
 

Force the gfx machine type to be the give token for debugging. Uses the values from /usr/incude/sys/invent.h.

PFASDLODSIZE
 

Set the number of LODs to be constructed in pfASD using routines in pfdBuildASD.c. In general, a value less than 8 runs a lot faster and uses much less space than any value beyond 8.

PFTMPDIR
 

Sets the tmp directory location.

PFMEMDEBUG
 

This variable sets up the trace on pfMemory usage.

PFCULLSPINCOUNT
 

If DRAW has finished previous frame, wait for DRAW to grab most recent buffer before updating it. This avoids hairy edge problems when the CULL is short and the DRAW wakes up jus after the CULL has finished a new buffer.

See Performer(3pf) for more details.