Program newAD2 is a tool for nonlinear regression (fitting) of physical quantities. Number 2 in the name represents version of the program (first version, newAD wasn't numbered). Program is distributed by pvm into several processes, enabling parallelization on single computers or also on heterogeneous computer clusters.
Processes running on the main computer only:
- masterAD2 Main process ensuring communication between others child processes.
- newAD2 Text console enabling interactive control and scripting.
- newAD2gui Graphical user interface for interactive control.
- watcherAD2 Main process supervising cluster function. More specifically, it provides that necessary programs are running on each computer (nods) and it deals with problems related to disconnecting and reconnecting of nods or with crushes of slave computers during calculation.
- spawnerAD2 Process ensuring calculation distribution among nods.
- addhosterAD2, spiritAD2 and heartAD2 Auxiliary processes for proper cluster operation.
- restorerAD2 Process providing restart of the calculation in case of crush of the whole system, i.e. of the main computer.
- importerAD2 Process enabling to load current system operation from out or log files.
- librarianAD2 Proces enabling data storage and download from the main computer.
Processes running on all nods, i.e. on both main and slave computers.:
- inspectorAD2 Process monitoring workload on nods and ensuring their dynamical configuration.
- slaveAD2 Process which contains implemented physical models. In a fact, process full name is slaveAD2-OTF, where OTF (Optics of Thin Films) extension is name of only yet implemented model for optics of thin films. This allows to implement different physical models in future, which would then have different extension. Moreover, slaveAD2 can have another extension, which discriminates clusters (see system installation for more users). Usually more of these processes run on a single nod. One for each processor core or thread, in case that processor enables hyperthreading.
newAD2
Command newAD2 launches command prompt, which connects to running newAD2, or starts newAD2 in current directory if it wasn't running. Any number of command prompts can be opened at the same time. List of newAD2 commands:
- add : Adds one computer.
- calculate / .calculate : Calculates theoretical values corresponding to experimental data and values of functions listed in the section "modeled functions".
- configuration : Writes information about computers.
- end : Stops current calculation when the current iteration is finished.
- enroll : Adds all computers.
- factor : Sets factors of experimental data to values for which individual sum of squares have targeted values.
- fit / .fit : Starts fit of experimental data with free parameters.
- fix : Fixes given parameters.
- free : Frees given parameters.
- halt : Kills newAD2 program.
- informations : Writes information about current newAD2 status.
- input : Loads experimental data.
- import : Loads model, input data and parameters from .out or .log file.
- let : Changes value of a parameter or setting.
- quit : Quits command prompt, newAD2 is still running in background.
- min / .min : Minimizes sum of squares for given parameter.
- model : Loads model from a modelfile.
- output : Saves result of newAD2 info file.
- parameters : Writes list of parameters and their values.
- processes : Writes information about calculation processes.
- restore : Restarts interrupted calculation.
- samples : Defines sample names in multisample mode.
- setting : Writes list of all settings.
- sort : Sorts the parameters of numbered structures according to different criteria.
- target : Sets targeted values of sums of squares for individual experimental data.
Commands can be shortened to three and more symbols. For example, instead of configuration
you can write conf
or con
.