Module Assembly - TC VM 3.0 Initialization - Setup Arena

Project Overview

TopCoder Competition Engine is a system used for Single Round Matches (SRM) and Marathon Matches (MM).

Currently, Arena VM is heavily used to challenges related to TopCoder Competition Engine.

But Arena VM is using old OS, we are in the processing of creating a new VM - TC VM 3.0, but it is not ready yet.

For this series of challenges, we'd like to use the power of community to help getting it ready.

Competition Task Overview

The purpose of this challenge is to make the services related to TopCoder Competition Engine setup properly.

Previously, it is not easily, we normally test the new steps, and commit into the vm_setup svn, then launch a new VM to verify.

For the challenge, we'd like to create some clean utilities and update the arena_init_script.sh script file, so we can repeatedly setup arena related staff for VM maintenance.

About Current VM Setup Scripts

For this challenge, every competitor will be grant root access to the TC VM 3.0 beta, so you can find the vm setup scripts at home directory of root user.

Following is the general description from my understanding.

• /root/hook-script.sh - this is the hook script that will be called after the VM allocated, it will retrieve the main-vm-script.sh to start the vm initialization, it is installed in the VM image, no change needed.
• /root/main-vm-script.sh - the main vm initialization script for setting up TC VMs, not just the Arena VM, the INIT_TYPE will determine the scope for initialization, for this challenge, you just need to focus on INIT_TYPE = unified3
• /root/set-env-variables.sh - this setups the env variables, need to be called when you login to bash, before starting run any sh scripts related to arena.
• /root/startup-tmp - the directory contains the shell scripts checkout by main-vm-scripts.sh.
• /root/startup-tmp/common-init.sh - this inits the common setup like softwares.
• /root/startup-tmp/db-init.sh - this inits the informix database and mysql database.
• /root/startup-tmp/*-setup.sh - the shell scripts for setting up various part, you can get the general understanding about the name, if you have any confusion, you can ask in forum for explanation.
• /root/startup-tmp/arena_init_script.sh - this sets up all related staff for arena (topcoder competition engine), but it is out date, which we are planning to update.
• /root/startup-tmp/api-init.sh - this sets up the TC API under api account.
• /root/startup-tmp/start_services.sh - it starts all the services, but not called yet. which means the services need to be manually start.

Challenge Scope

For this challenge, we'd like to do some exploration.

1. Update the arena_init_script.sh according to the similar file for Arena VM 2.10, an Arena VM will be allocated for each member with root access for reference.
2. Create a clean_arena_init.sh file, which will rollback the setup of arena_init_scripts.sh, you can learn from the similar script in Arena VM 2.10.
3. Create a start_arena_services.sh file, which will be used to start arena related services.
4. Create a stop_arena_services.sh file, which will be used to stop arena related services, this can be invoked by clean_arena_init.sh before doing real cleanup.

Verification

in order to verify the repeatly running the arena_init_scripts.sh, you are expected to follow the SRM Problem Guide (attached in forum) to verify the make sure the functionality and services provided by TopCoder Competiton Engine is still working properly.

Winner Responsibility

the merging of scripts with VM initialization process is out of scope for winning, because of permission, but winner will be responsible to provide support, if we meet any merging issue.

About VMs

Before asking your own VM, you need to have a public key on your profile before asking for the VM.

You can find more details on how to generate a key http://apps.topcoder.com/wiki/display/projects/Generate+SSH+Key and how to connect using it http://apps.topcoder.com/wiki/display/projects/Connect+Using+SSH+Key.

Two VMs with root access will be granted to each competitor - One Arena VM and One TC VM 3.0 Beta.

Please reference http://apps.topcoder.com/wiki/display/docs/Competition+Engine+VM+Setup for general usage of Arena VM.

and please reference VM Image 2.5 - TopCoder Wiki for similar info related to TC VM 3.0 Beta.

Previously, we have made several update for the Arena VM.  So when the Arena VM allocated is available for you, there is a problem and a SRM contest already setup, you can reuse that for testing.