/2026-03-30T00:00:00+02:002026-03-30T00:00:00+02:002026-03-30T00:00:00+02:00Rikkatag:None,2026-03-30:/hpc-freebsd-march-2026.html

<p>Progress update for March: UCX portability fixes, two Slurm version updates with BSD-specific fix, and upstream UCX contribution merged.</p>

<h2>Ports updates</h2> <ul> <li><code>net/ucx</code>: fix build on FreeBSD 13.5 — define <code>s6_addr32</code> shim for <code>struct in6_addr</code> — <a href="https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/commit/63a68d9d459a0ed27f7b1dadaee6cf4cdbe8e2af">commit</a> | <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=293429">PR</a></li> <li><code>benchmarks/py-reframe-hpc</code>: update 4.9.1 → 4.9.2 — <a href="https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/commit/442446fbf832d5f2502d18f7893b550d53c04074">commit</a> | <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=293699">PR</a></li> </ul> <h2>Slurm updates</h2> <ul> <li><code>sysutils/slurm-wlm</code>: update to 25.11.2, fix BSD <code>sockaddr</code> length handling (<code>slurm_sockaddr_fixlen()</code>) — <a href="https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/commit/1cfa47f320fa8b1fa1edba614397087aac846ab1">commit</a> | <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=292799">PR</a></li> <li><code>sysutils/slurm-wlm</code>: update to 25.11.4 — <a href="https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/commit/192d6f6c86e16c42549a9ccc42cb7d6727e17321">commit</a> | <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=293776">PR</a> </li> </ul> <h2>Upstream work</h2> <ul> <li>UCX: BSD portability patch merged upstream — gate <code>brk</code>/<code>sbrk</code> hooks on configure-time availability — <a href="https://github.com/openucx/ucx/commit/c698e430522ee5799d064298d8174b0c4c8903f7">commit</a> | <a href="https://github.com/openucx/ucx/pull/11198">PR</a></li> </ul> <h2>Work in progress</h2> <ul> <li><code>sysutils/mpifileutils</code> and dependency stack (<code>devel/libcircle</code>, <code>devel/lwgrp</code>, <code>devel/dtcmp</code>) — keeping submissions updated and awaiting review</li> </ul>2026-02-28T00:00:00+01:002026-02-28T00:00:00+01:00Rikkatag:None,2026-02-28:/hpc-freebsd-feburary-2026.html

<p>Progress update for February: two new ports landed expanding the FreeBSD HPC ecosystem, and a UCX upstream fix submitted.</p>

<h2>New Ports</h2> <ul> <li><code>benchmarks/py-reframe-hpc</code> merged into freebsd-ports — <a href="https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/commit/7ce98714b82b526eb31313e60805f2951a274688">commit</a> | <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289292">PR</a> </li> <li><code>net/ucx</code> merged into freebsd-ports — <a href="https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-ports/commit/294f65945aef29f1aed496f170e34a219121afbb">commit</a> | <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=292889">PR</a></li> </ul> <h2>Upstream work</h2> <ul> <li>Submitted portability fix to UCX: gate brk/sbrk hooks on configure-time availability — <a href="https://github.com/openucx/ucx/pull/11198">PR</a></li> </ul> <h2>Work in progress</h2> <ul> <li><code>sysutils/mpifileutils</code> and dependency stack (<code>devel/libcircle</code>, <code>devel/lwgrp</code>, <code>devel/dtcmp</code>) — keeping submissions updated and awaiting review</li> </ul>2026-01-31T00:00:00+01:002026-01-31T00:00:00+01:00Rikkatag:None,2026-01-31:/hpc-freebsd-january-2026.html

<p>Progress update for January: documentation publicated, new py-reframe-hpc port merged, ongoing coordination with SchedMD to improve Slurm on FreeBSD.</p>

<h2>Documentation</h2> <ul> <li>FreeBSD Quarterly Status Report for HPC-modernization is now public at: <a href="https://www.freebsd.org/status/report-2025-10-2025-12/#_freebsd_hpc_ports_modernization_slurm_25_11_and_unbundled_pmixprrte">www.freebsd.org</a></li> </ul> <h2>New Ports</h2> <ul> <li>benchmarks/py-reframe-hpc merged into freebsd-ports [<a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289292">bugzilla PZ</a>]</li> <li>devel/spack keeping submission updated and awaiting review [<a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289296">bugzilla PR</a>]</li> <li>sysutils/mpifileutils keeping submission updated and awaiting review [<a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=291679">bugzilla PR</a>]</li> </ul> <h2>Slurm updates</h2> <ul> <li>merged local ports patch upstream [<a href="https://support.schedmd.com/show_bug.cgi?id=23658">schedmd PR</a>]</li> <li>submitted update to slurm 25.11.3 [<a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=292799">bugzilla PR</a>]<ul> <li>update resolves some connectivity issues, clusters are now able to communicate and run jobs properly</li> </ul> </li> </ul>2025-12-31T00:00:00+01:002025-12-31T00:00:00+01:00Rikkatag:None,2025-12-31:/hpc-freebsd-december-2025.html

<p>Progress update for December: documentation merged and ongoing coordination with SchedMD to improve Slurm on FreeBSD.</p>

<h2>Milestones</h2> <ul> <li>The Slurm upstream codebase has reached a point where <code>sysutils/slurm-wlm</code> builds on FreeBSD with minimal port-specific patching.</li> </ul> <h2>Documentation</h2> <ul> <li>FreeBSD Quarterly Status Report for HPC work merged for Q42025 – <a href link=https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-doc/pull/570>PR</a></li> </ul> <h2>Work in Progress</h2> <h3>New Ports</h3> <ul> <li>Updated submission on <code>devel/lwgrp</code>, <code>devel/dtcmp</code> and <code>devel/libcircle</code></li> </ul> <h3>Slurm updates</h3> <ul> <li>Started work on update of the slurm-wlm port to version 25.11.1</li> <li>Continued upstream efforts with SchedMD to work on FreeBSD compatibility issues</li> </ul>2025-11-30T00:00:00+01:002025-11-30T00:00:00+01:00Rikkatag:None,2025-11-30:/hpc-freebsd-november-2025.html

<p>In November I focused on consolidating the existing HPC stack on FreeBSD and preparing additional core components for ports.</p>

<h2>Slurm updates</h2> <ul> <li>Finished upgrading <code>sysutils/slurm-wlm</code> to the current 25.11.0 release and verified it on my small test setup – <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289656">PR</a></li> <li>Reworked Slurm’s <code>rc.d</code> scripts to use <code>daemon(8)</code> for process supervision and added configurable knobs for config, PID, and log file locations. This should make service management more robust and better aligned with FreeBSD conventions – <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=290211">PR</a></li> </ul> <h2>New ports</h2> <ul> <li>Added <code>sysutils/py-clustershell</code>, providing a flexible Python-based framework for cluster-wide command execution and administration. This is a foundational tool for managing HPC-style environments more comfortably on FreeBSD – <a href="https://www.freshports.org/sysutils/py-clustershell">sysutils/py-clustershell</a></li> </ul> <h2>Work in progress</h2> <ul> <li>Submitted new ports <code>devel/lwgrp</code>, <code>devel/dtcmp</code> and <code>devel/libcircle</code>, which are required dependencies for <code>sysutils/mpifileutils</code>. Both are pending review and commit – <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=291587">devel/lwgrp</a>, <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=291588">devel/dtcmp</a>, <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=291589">devel/libcircle</a></li> <li>Submitted new ports <code>devel/spack</code> (HPC package manager) and <code>benchmarks/py-reframe</code> (regression testing framework for HPC systems); both are pending review and fit into the broader HPC toolchain on FreeBSD – <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289296">devel/spack</a>, <a href="https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289292">benchmarks/py-reframe</a></li> <li>Started work on a new port for <code>sysutils/mpifileutils</code>. The port is roughly 50% complete: it currently builds with FreeBSD-specific adjustments, and the remaining work is to replace interim stubs with proper FreeBSD implementations and finish testing before submission.</li> </ul> <h2>Coordination and outreach</h2> <ul> <li>Sent a few coordination emails to align future HPC work and gather feedback on the roadmap. Responses are still pending, which is totally understandable given people’s schedules; for now I’m treating these as open threads and will follow up later if appropriate.</li> </ul>2025-10-30T00:00:00+01:002025-10-30T00:00:00+01:00Rikkatag:None,2025-10-30:/hpc-freebsd-oktober-2025.html

<p>Slurm upgrade in progress, continuing upstreaming of portability patches to SchedMD, building a contributor circle and stating future plans.</p>

<h2>OpenMPI / PMIx / PRRTE stack split</h2> <p>In close coordination with Laurent (maintainer of the OpenMPI ports), the FreeBSD OpenMPI stack has been split into separate ports for OpenMPI, PRRTE, and PMIx. This unbundling is a key prerequisite for a modern HPC stack on FreeBSD and greatly simplifies integration with Slurm and other MPI consumers.</p> <p>I’ve started testing the new split across my home cluster (FreeBSD 14.3/15-CURRENT) and plan to feed back any issues or patches to keep this stack robust and attractive for HPC users.</p> <p>This complements my ongoing work on sysutils/slurm-wlm and broader HPC infrastructure (ClusterShell, PMIx/PRRTE, etc.), moving FreeBSD closer to being a first-class HPC platform.</p> <h2>Work in Progress</h2> <ul> <li> <b>Slurm upgrade under detailed review:</b><br> Ongoing review of sysutils/slurm-wlm upgrade – <a href link=https://reviews.freebsd.org/D52949>Review D52949</a> </li> <ul> <li> Local build and runtime tests for Slurm 25.05.3 are green on 14.3-RELEASE <b>Build issues discovered and analyzed:</b><br> Identified and documented FreeBSD-specific Slurm build issues in the new release; preparing an <b>upstream-compatible fix</b> for submission – <a href link=https://support.schedmd.com/show_bug.cgi?id=23830>Upstream Report</a> </li> </ul> <li> <b>Community collaboration:</b> <br> Initiated contact with other FreeBSD contributors active in the HPC domain to exchange ideas and begin forming a <b>collaborative HPC contributor circle</b>. </li> <li> <b>Upstream communication:</b> <br> In communication with upstream regarding FreeBSD portability patches </li> </ul> <h2>Future Trajectory</h2> <ul> <li> <b>Resource management enhancements: Replace Linux cgroup functionality with native FreeBSD mechanisms.</b> </li> <ul> <li> Review rctl(8) and design an rctl resource plugin for Slurm. </li> <li> Implement native task and resource tracking to replace the current proc-based approach. </li> </ul> <li> <b>Infrastructure maintenance:</b><br> Address internal GitLab outage and ensure CI pipelines remain functional for testing upcoming HPC ports. </li>2025-09-28T00:00:00+02:002025-09-28T00:00:00+02:00Rikkatag:None,2025-09-28:/hpc-freebsd-september-2025.html

<p>Infrastructural Work and slurm upstream work.</p>

<h2>Infrastructure &amp; Coordination</h2> <ul> <li>Set up project infrastructure to support FreeBSD HPC development, including GitLab for source hosting, issues, and merge requests.</li> <li>Established category separation between blog posts and reports for clearer communication.</li> </ul> <h2>Upstream Work</h2> <ul> <li>First patch merged upstream into Slurm, addressing sa_len handling on BSD platforms.</li> <li>Promising cooperation emerging with SchedMD developers, opening the door to further *BSD support.</li> </ul> <h2>Next Steps</h2> <ul> <li>Expand CI integration to automate ports testing.</li> <li>Continue discussions with upstream on BSD compatibility improvements.</li> <li>Update sysutils/slurm-wlm to the latest release.</li> <li>Further expand FreeBSD’s HPC ports stack.<ul> <li>Push ready ports to be committed.</li> </ul> </li> </ul>2025-08-28T00:00:00+02:002025-08-28T00:00:00+02:00Rikkatag:None,2025-08-28:/hpc-freebsd-august-2025.html

<p>Porting majority of HPC-related software stack to FreeBSD ports and fixing *BSD specific Slurm issues.</p>

<h2>Ports Work</h2> <ul> <li>Started porting the majority of the HPC-related software stack into the FreeBSD Ports tree, now hosted and tracked on our GitLab instance.</li> <li>Significant progress on Slurm fixes, enabling FreeBSD builds to complete and execute with fewer BSD-specific issues.</li> </ul> <h2>Bug Fixes &amp; Patches</h2> <ul> <li>Multiple local fixes applied to Slurm, targeting socket handling and portability issues.</li> <li>Documented all patches for eventual upstream submission.</li> </ul> <h2>Next Steps</h2> <ul> <li>Finalize remaining patches for upstream review.</li> <li>Begin setting up automated infrastructure for testing and reproducibility.</li> <li>Continue porting HPC-related software into the Ports tree.</li> </ul>