Q) I'm having a problem with mpirun. When I use the command-line interface my application loads fine and works. When I try using a configuration file or use guimpirun, for some reason, my application is unable to create a window.
A)
2. The process launcher for MPICH, mpd, runs as a service. When it launches processes they are
put in their own hidden desktop. Any windows these processes bring up are hidden from view. If you
must be able to see your windows, you can allow processes to share the default desktop by
re-installing mpd with the interact option. Execute mpd -remove to uninstall and then execute
mpd -install -interact to re-install.
This will not work for a terminal services session. This will only allow windows to show up on the default logon desktop (the monitor directly connected to the host).
There may be permission issues if a user is logged on to a machine and a different user attempts to launch a process on the same machine. So '-interact' is not the default nor recommended method of installation.
3. But sometimes I can see my windows, even with the default installation. This is true. If mpirun
determines that you are only running processes on the local machine, it bypasses mpd and launches the
processes in the current context - thus allowing you to see your windows. When mpirun parses a
configuration file, it always use mpd. guiMPIRun always uses mpd.