Processor vs. CPU vs. Core for domain parallelization

[rjd150]

This is probably a trivial question but I'm confused by what exactly Abaqus means when it says "use multiple processors" in the job module. Here's what I'm confused about: I have two Intel Xeon CPU E5-2687W "processors", each with 8 "cores", so I'm wondering how exactly Abaqus distributes a job across these processors if I chose "2" for example. Does it mean its using 2 cores on one processor, or both processors but all 16 cores??

Thanks!

 

[mechdrive1]

If I'm not wrong then like you mentioned each processor has 8 cores i.e. cpus. So you have to specify ABAQUS to use anything from 2-16 cores and not processors. Remember that ncpus=mpi i.e. number of cores/cpus must be same number as that of mpi processors.

ABAQUS will divide the problem into the specified number of domains, example: two processors and 8 cores each means 32 domains. It will divide into domains automatically.

 

[rjd150]

Ok I think I get it now. Number of processors in Abaqus means number of "cores". Is there any advantage to specifying more domains than the number of cores being used? For example, since I have 16 cores available, the default value is 16 domains but why would I want to use 32?

 

[mechdrive1]

My apologies, I calculated the number of cores wrong. But like you mentioned two processors and 8 cores each=16 cores/domains should be good. You cannot specify more number of domains than your actual number of cores available.