Gentoo Distributed Compiling HOWTO

[Emon 40]

(This is an easy and quick HOWTO on distributed compiling. I am sure there are several ways

to do this but this is what worked for me nicely.)

Well if you are a Gentoo user you sure know how it feels like waiting for big package(s) (i.e KDE) to compile.

But there's a way to reduce that wait time. If you have some extra PCs lying here and there in your place,

you can use them to compile your precious Gentoo apps.

Sounds neat ..isn't it ? :) Here's what you have to do.

We are going to use a program call distcc

So in your Gentoo Box install that app.

emerge distcc

Now we have to configure distcc. To do that we have to edit the /etc/make.conf file.

add

FEATURES="distcc"

uncomment

PORTAGE_TMPDIR

and add

DISTCC_DIR=${PORTAGE_TMPDIR}/portage/.distcc

at the end of the file.

Also you have to uncomment

MAKEOPTS=-jN

and change that N to a number. For example if you are using 3 machines to compile then the N have to be 4.

Make a directory call .distcc inside /var/tmp/portage directory.

Now download a KNOPPIX(distccKNOPPIX) iso from here and burn it. distccKNOPPIX is a bootable and self-configuring Linux system running distccd daemon.

Boot your extra PC with that CD and type ifconfig to get the IP address of that machine.

We are almost done...Head over to your Gentoo Box, open a console window and type

/usr/bin/distcc-config --set-hosts "localhost 'IP_address_of_the_other_machine'"

Thats it !! Now you are ready for distributed compiling.

EDIT: don't forget to run the distcc daemon in your Gentoo Box also. :) /etc/init.d/distccd start

If you want you can also add the daemon to startup. rc-update add distccd default

distcc comes with a nice GUI to monitor which machine is doing what. Here's how you can run it.

open a console window and type that

DISTCC_DIR=/var/tmp/portage/.distcc distccmon-gnome

Now emerge and have fun. :D

( if you want to cross compile, such as using cygwin read this http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=66930.

It didn't work for me. So If anyone can get cross compiling working let me know.)

Edited January 12, 2006 by Emon

[markjensen 97]

Oh, WOW! That is an AWESOME trick!

It's almost like running a cluster, but its handled by the distcc program for compile operations.

I'll have to cut this procedure out and put it in my tricks dir, so I can use it later... :D

[kemical 0]

clever i may try that :)

[forster 23]

(Y) Well done :)

[configure 1]

Thread moved to Linux HOWTO & FAQ's forum.

Oh and I edited the title too :p

[volrathxp 0]

Very nice thanks :)

Has this been posted at all over Gentoo's forums? I'ma have to look :)

[Emon 40]

Thread moved to Linux HOWTO & FAQ's forum.

Oh and I edited the title too :p

:) and I was looking for this thread all over !

I forgot to mention that you have to turn on the distcc daemon in your Gentoo box too.

Thanks Configure for moving it here.

[Tek 0]

Nice info man. (Y)

[MG-Cloud 0]

Great stuff :D

Now I just gotta get me another computer .......................................

doh :'(

[JadeWolf324 0]

wow thats damn cool...:woot: