NODEATTR(1)

NAME
nodeattr - query genders file

SYNOPSIS
nodeattr [-f genders] [-q | -c | -n | -s] [-X exclude_query] query
nodeattr [-f genders] [-q | -c | -n | -s] -A
nodeattr [-f genders] [-v] [node] attr[=val]
nodeattr [-f genders] -Q [node] query
nodeattr [-f genders] -V [-U] attr
nodeattr [-f genders] -l [node]
nodeattr [-f genders] -k
nodeattr [-f genders] -d genders
nodeattr [-f genders] --expand
nodeattr [-f genders] --compress
nodeattr [-f genders] --compress-hosts

DESCRIPTION
When invoked with the -q , -c , -n , or -s arguments, nodeattr reads the genders file and outputs a list of nodes that match the specified query. The nodes are listed in hostlist format, comma separated lists, newline separated lists, or space separated lists respectively. The -q form is returned by default. Genders queries will query the genders database for a set of nodes based on the union, intersection, difference, or complement of genders attributes and values. The set operation union is represented by two pipe symbols ('||'), intersection by two ampersand symbols ('&&'), difference by two minus symbols ('--'), and complement by a tilde ('~'). Parentheses may be used to change the order of operations. The -X argument and query can be used to exclude nodes from the resulting output. A query can be replaced with the -A option to cause nodeattr to print all the nodes listed in the genders database.

When called with a node name (optional) and attribute name, nodeattr returns 0 to the environment if the node has the attribute; else 1. If -v is present, the attribute name and any value (see below) is printed on the standard output. If a node name is not specified, the local host is assumed.

When called with the -Q argument, nodeattr will check if the node name (optional) is met by the attribute and value conditions specified in the query. If the conditions are met, nodeattr returns 0 to the environment; else 1. The query format is identical to the format listed above. If a node name is not specified, the local host is assumed.

The -V option causes nodeattr to print all of the values that exist for a particular attribute. Also specifing -U with -V causes nodeattr to print out only unique values for the particular attribute.

The -l option causes nodeattr to print all of the attributes of the specified node or list of nodes. If no node is listed, all attributes in the genders file are listed.

The -k option checks the genders file for parse errors and proper formatting. If errors are found, information about the error will be output to standard error.

Nodeattr will always check the default genders file, but a different genders file can be specified with the -f option.

The -d option allows the specified genders database to be compared to the filename indicated by the -f option or the default genders database. The differences contained in the specified database will be output to standard error. Attribute names may optionally appear in the genders file with an equal sign followed by a value. Nodeattr ignores these values except when the -v option requests that the value, if any, be displayed; and when an attribute is specified on the command line with a value, in which case only an attribute with the specified value in the genders file will match.

For --expand --compress --compress-attrs --compress-hosts see HOSTRANGE EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION below.

HOSTRANGE EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION
The --expand option will take a genders database, expand all hostranges, and output a new genders database. The subsequent database will be identical to the first, but every node will be listed on a separate line. This option may be useful for debugging or determining the difference between databases.

The --compress option is the opposite of the --expand option. It will output a new identical genders database with hostranges of nodes with identical attributes. Depending on the setup of your genders database, the resulting database may be longer or shorter. This option may be useful as a beginning step to compressing an existing genders database.

The --compress-hosts option is similar to the --compress option. With --compress a given attr only appears once. With --compress-hosts a given node only appears once. The --compress-hosts option combines attributes for each node first and then groups nodes with identical attribute sets rather than creating a group of nodes for each attribute and then merging common groups. This is useful for identifying "different" nodes. For example:

for the genders file:
    cluster[1-20] attr1,attr2
    cluster10 attr3
    cluster20 attr3
    cluster[2,5,10] attr4
    cluster[7,20] attr5

The nodeattr --compress command produces:
    cluster[2,5,10] attr4
    cluster[10,20] attr3
    cluster[7,20] attr5
    cluster[1-20] attr1,attr2

Where nodeattr --compress-hosts produces:
    cluster[1,3-4,6,8-9,11-19] attr1,attr2
    cluster[2,5] attr1,attr2,attr4
    cluster10 attr1,attr2,attr3,attr4
    cluster20 attr1,attr2,attr3,attr5
    cluster7 attr1,attr2,attr5

In the --compress output, cluster7 appears in the third and fourth lines because it is a member of ranges with attr1,attr2 and ranges with attr5. In the --compress-hosts output, cluster7 appears on a new line because there are no other nodes with the same combination of attributes.

The --compress-attrs option is identical to --compress . It was added for consistency when --compress-hosts was added.

EXAMPLES

Retrieve a comma separated list of all login nodes:

    nodeattr -c login

Retrieve a hostlist formatted list of all login nodes:

    nodeattr -q login

Retrieve a comma separated list of nodes with 4 cpus:

    nodeattr -c cpus=4

Retrieve a comma separated list of all login and management nodes:

    nodeattr -c "login||mgmt"

Retrieve a comma separated list of all login nodes with 4 cpus:

    nodeattr -c "login&&cpus=4"

Retrieve a comma separated list of all nodes that are not login or management nodes:

    nodeattr -c "~(login||mgmt)"

To use nodeattr with pdsh to run a command on all fddi nodes:

    pdsh -w`nodeattr -c fddi` command

To use nodeattr in a ksh script to collect a list of users on login nodes:

    for i in `nodeattr -n login`; do rsh $i who; done

To verify whether or not this node is a head node:

    nodeattr head && echo yes

To verify whether or not this node is a head node and ntpserver:

    nodeattr -Q "head&&ntpserver" && echo yes

FILES
/etc/genders

SEE ALSO
libgenders(3)