pfcon 2.2.4.6

(Python) Process and File Controller

Table of Contents

• Overview

  • pfcon

• Installation

  • Python Virtual Environment

  • Using the fnndsc/pfcon dock

• Usage

  • pfcon usage

• EXAMPLES

Overview

This repository provides pfcon – a controlling service that speaks to remote pman and pfioh services.

pfcon

Most simply, pfcon pushes local data to a remote location (by talking to a remote pfioh service), runs some process on this data in the remote space using pman, and then copies the resultant data back to a local target space.

It can be used to query and control the following (for example):

• state: Is job <XYZ> still running?

• result: What is the stdout (or stderr) from job <XYZ>?

• control: Kill job <XYZ>

Installation

Installation is relatively straightforward, and we recommend using either python virtual environments or docker.

Python Virtual Environment

On Ubuntu, install the Python virtual environment creator

sudo apt install virtualenv

Then, create a directory for your virtual environments e.g.:

mkdir ~/python-envs

You might want to add to your .bashrc file these two lines:

export WORKON_HOME=~/python-envs
source /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh

Then you can source your .bashrc and create a new Python3 virtual environment:

source .bashrc
mkvirtualenv --python=python3 python_env

To activate or “enter” the virtual env:

workon python_env

To deactivate virtual env:

deactivate

Using the fnndsc/pfcon dock

The easiest option however, is to just use the fnndsc/pfcon dock.

docker pull fnndsc/pfcon

and then run

docker run --name pfcon -v /home:/Users --rm -ti fnndsc/pfcon --forever --httpResponse

Usage

For usage of pfcon, consult the relevant wiki pages.

pfcon usage

For pfcon detailed information, see the pfcon wiki page.

[--ip <IP>]

The IP interface on which to listen. Default %s.

[--port <port>]
The port on which to listen. Defaults to '5055'.

[--man <manpage>]
Internal man page with more detail on specific calls.

[--forever]
Start service and do not terminate.

[--httpResponse]
Send return strings as HTTP formatted replies with content-type html.

[--cordBlockSeconds <blockSeconds>]
The number of seconds to block/wait internally in the coordination loop.
This is the time between ``pfioh`` has indicated successful unpack of file
data and the call to ``pman`` to start processing.

[--configFileLoad <file>]
Load configuration information from the JSON formatted <file>.

[--configFileSave <file>]
Save configuration information to the JSON formatted <file>.

[-x|--desc]
Provide an overview help page.

[-y|--synopsis]
Provide a synopsis help summary.

[--version]
Print internal version number and exit.

[--debugToDir <dir>]
A directory to contain various debugging output -- these are typically
JSON object strings capturing internal state. If empty string (default)
then no debugging outputs are captured/generated. If specified, then
``pfcon`` will check for dir existence and attempt to create if
needed.

[-v|--verbosity <level>]
Set the verbosity level. "0" typically means no/minimal output. Allows for
more fine tuned output control as opposed to '--quiet' that effectively
silences everything.

EXAMPLES

Start pfcon in forever mode:

pfcon                                                   \\
    --forever                                           \\
    --port 5005                                         \\
    --httpResponse                                      \\
    --verbosity 1                                       \\
    --debugToDir /tmp                                   \\
    --ip 127.0.0.1