Broker - Man Page

C++Broker [options]

This is the SBW Broker, version 2.12.2 (C++ Release,Linux running on port: -1).

The SBW Broker runs as a background process on a computer to coordinate the activities of SBW modules.  It enables locating and starting modules on demand.  The SBW Broker should not normally need to be started explicitly, because the SBW libraries start the Broker if it is not already running. However, some functions (such as the --shutdown command) do need to be invoked directly.

Options:

-a | --accept-address ADDRESS

This is for use with host-based (non-SSH) authentication and when modules from other hosts are allowed to connect to the Broker.  This option adds the given ADDRESS to the list of host addresses allowed to connect to this SBW Broker.  The address must be specified in IPv4 dotted quad notation: "123.123.123.123".  Any of the four fields can be replaced with the wildcard character '*' to indicate that any value for that field is acceptable.  So, for example, "132.215.42.*" indicates any host on the subnet "132.215.42.*" may connect to the Broker.  This option interacts with the --deny-address option documented below in the following way: addresses that are allowed, and not explicitly denied, are permitted.  (This option has no effect unless the options --remote-modules or --no-ssh are also given.)

-b | --broker-ports LOW-HIGH

By default, the Broker opens a port for inter-Broker communications by searching for the first free port in the range 10102 through 10202, inclusive.  This option allows you to specify a different port range, from port number LOW through port number HIGH, inclusive.  For example, "--broker-ports 11000-12000" would dictate that the Broker should look for a free port in the range 10001 through 10010.  You can force the Broker to try to use one particular port by using the same number for LOW and HIGH.

-d | --deny-address ADDRESS

This is for use with host-based (non-SSH) authentication and when modules from other hosts are allowed to connect to the Broker.  This option the given ADDRESS to the list of host addresses prevented from connecting to this SBW Broker.  The address must be specified in IPv4 dotted quad notation: "123.123.123.123".  Any of the four fields can be replaced with the wildcard character '*' to indicate that any value for that field is acceptable.  So, for example, "132.215.42.*" indicates any host on the subnet "132.215.42.*" is denied from connecting to the Broker. This option interacts with the --accept-address option documented above in the following way: addresses that are allowed, and not explicitly denied, are permitted.  (This option has no effect unless the options --remote-modules or --no-ssh are also given.)

-e | --remote-modules

By default, only connections originating from the local host can connect to the Broker.  The --remote-modules flag enables modules running on hosts other than the local host to connect to this Broker.  This flag is not needed in normal SBW use scenarios because a module running on a remote host should normally be connected to a Broker running on that host.  Also, note that this flag only affects whether network connections from non-local hosts are permitted; a remote module will still be denied if it does not have the same session key as is being used by the Broker.

-g | --registry PATHNAME

This flag specifies that the file given by PATHNAME should be used as the Broker's module registry file, instead of the Broker's built-in default.

-h | --help

This flag tells the Broker to print this help text and exit.

-i | --info

This produces a description of the running state of the Broker (if there is a Broker running on this computer) and then exits without doing anything else or processing any other flags.

-k | --key-file PATHNAME

Use the file given by PATHNAME as the session key file instead of the default pathname.  The default session authentication key is stored it in a private file inside the ".sbw" directory/folder in the user's home directory.

-l | --reload-key

Normally, if a Broker is not already running on the local host when a new Broker is started, the Broker generates a new session authentication key and stores it in a private file inside the ".sbw" directory/folder in the user's home directory.  The --reload-key flag tells the Broker to not generate a new key, and instead to reuse the key in the key file.   This flag should not normally be used; it is primarily for use by remote Brokers.

-m | --module-ports LOW-HIGH

By default, the Broker opens a port for module connections by searching for the first free port in the range 10002 through 10102, inclusive.  This option allows you to specify a different port range, from port number LOW through port number HIGH, inclusive.  For example, "--module-ports 11000-12000" would dictate that the Broker should look for a free port in the range 10001 through 10010.  You can force the Broker to try to use one particular port by using the same number for LOW and HIGH.

-o | --module-options "OPTIONS STRING"

Use the given options as command-line options to modules when they are started up.  THIS OPTION CURRENTLY DOES NOT WORK.

-R | --no-remote

By default, the Broker is always listening for connections from other Brokers.  This flag tells the Broker to disallow remote Broker connections.  It does this by not starting up the listener thread.

-r | --remote-from HOSTNAME

Flag handed to a Broker when it is started remotely by another Broker.  The HOSTNAME is the host that started this Broker.

-S | --no-ssh

Disable the use of SSH for remote Broker communications.

It

will still be possible to connect Brokers manually, but there will be no security on the communications channel and it will require manually copying session key files between hosts and starting the individual Brokers.  Use of this option is not recommended.

-s | --sbw-home PATHNAME

Change what is assumed to be the root directory of the SBW installation to PATHNAME.  By default, SBW uses various approaches to determine the root of its installation; this flag allows you to override them and explicitly set the path to the installation directory.

-t | --trace

This flag can only be used with the debugging copy of the Broker (i.e., file SBWBroker-debug.jar).  It turns on tracing of activities in the Broker and leads to copious debugging output.

-U | --shutdown

This shuts down a running Broker (if any) on the local host.  A new Broker is not started.  This is the preferred method for shutting down Brokers.

-u | --user-dir PATHNAME

By default, SBW stores information in a user-specific subdirectory/folder called ".sbw" in the user's home directory.  This flag allows you to override the default and set the user directory to an explicit PATHNAME.  This may be useful in distributed computing environments where home directories are not where they're expected.

-w | --module-wait INTEGER

The amount of time, in tenths of a second, that the Broker should wait for a module to start up.  The default is 600 (1 minute).

The SBW home page is http://www.sys-bio.org. Please send bug reports and question to sysbio-team@caltech.edu

The full documentation for Broker is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the info and Broker programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info Broker

should give you access to the complete manual.