add cluster_id support to ipcluster/launchers

This includes a moderate reorganization of the common launcher args.

start() no longer takes profile_dir, which is now a trait,
as is cluster_id.   This is implemented via small Mixin classes,
consolidating many duplicated controller_cmd/args / engine_cmd/args lines.

IPython/parallel/apps/ipclusterapp.py

@@ -1,529 +1,525
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 """
 The ipcluster application.
 
 Authors:
 
 * Brian Granger
 * MinRK
 
 """
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #  Copyright (C) 2008-2011  The IPython Development Team
 #
 #  Distributed under the terms of the BSD License.  The full license is in
 #  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 import errno
 import logging
 import os
 import re
 import signal
 
 from subprocess import check_call, CalledProcessError, PIPE
 import zmq
 from zmq.eventloop import ioloop
 
 from IPython.config.application import Application, boolean_flag
 from IPython.config.loader import Config
 from IPython.core.application import BaseIPythonApplication
 from IPython.core.profiledir import ProfileDir
 from IPython.utils.daemonize import daemonize
 from IPython.utils.importstring import import_item
 from IPython.utils.sysinfo import num_cpus
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import (Int, Unicode, Bool, CFloat, Dict, List, 
                                         DottedObjectName)
 
 from IPython.parallel.apps.baseapp import (
     BaseParallelApplication,
     PIDFileError,
     base_flags, base_aliases
 )
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Module level variables
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 default_config_file_name = u'ipcluster_config.py'
 
 
 _description = """Start an IPython cluster for parallel computing.
 
 An IPython cluster consists of 1 controller and 1 or more engines.
 This command automates the startup of these processes using a wide
 range of startup methods (SSH, local processes, PBS, mpiexec,
 Windows HPC Server 2008). To start a cluster with 4 engines on your
 local host simply do 'ipcluster start --n=4'. For more complex usage
 you will typically do 'ipython profile create mycluster --parallel', then edit
 configuration files, followed by 'ipcluster start --profile=mycluster --n=4'.
 """
 
 _main_examples = """
 ipcluster start --n=4 # start a 4 node cluster on localhost
 ipcluster start -h    # show the help string for the start subcmd
 
 ipcluster stop -h     # show the help string for the stop subcmd
 ipcluster engines -h  # show the help string for the engines subcmd
 """
 
 _start_examples = """
 ipython profile create mycluster --parallel # create mycluster profile
 ipcluster start --profile=mycluster --n=4   # start mycluster with 4 nodes
 """
 
 _stop_examples = """
 ipcluster stop --profile=mycluster  # stop a running cluster by profile name
 """
 
 _engines_examples = """
 ipcluster engines --profile=mycluster --n=4  # start 4 engines only
 """
 
 
 # Exit codes for ipcluster
 
 # This will be the exit code if the ipcluster appears to be running because
 # a .pid file exists
 ALREADY_STARTED = 10
 
 
 # This will be the exit code if ipcluster stop is run, but there is not .pid
 # file to be found.
 ALREADY_STOPPED = 11
 
 # This will be the exit code if ipcluster engines is run, but there is not .pid
 # file to be found.
 NO_CLUSTER = 12
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Main application
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 start_help = """Start an IPython cluster for parallel computing
 
 Start an ipython cluster by its profile name or cluster
 directory. Cluster directories contain configuration, log and
 security related files and are named using the convention
 'profile_<name>' and should be creating using the 'start'
 subcommand of 'ipcluster'. If your cluster directory is in 
 the cwd or the ipython directory, you can simply refer to it
 using its profile name, 'ipcluster start --n=4 --profile=<profile>`,
 otherwise use the 'profile-dir' option.
 """
 stop_help = """Stop a running IPython cluster
 
 Stop a running ipython cluster by its profile name or cluster
 directory. Cluster directories are named using the convention
 'profile_<name>'. If your cluster directory is in 
 the cwd or the ipython directory, you can simply refer to it
 using its profile name, 'ipcluster stop --profile=<profile>`, otherwise
 use the '--profile-dir' option.
 """
 engines_help = """Start engines connected to an existing IPython cluster
 
 Start one or more engines to connect to an existing Cluster
 by profile name or cluster directory.
 Cluster directories contain configuration, log and
 security related files and are named using the convention
 'profile_<name>' and should be creating using the 'start'
 subcommand of 'ipcluster'. If your cluster directory is in 
 the cwd or the ipython directory, you can simply refer to it
 using its profile name, 'ipcluster engines --n=4 --profile=<profile>`,
 otherwise use the 'profile-dir' option.
 """
 stop_aliases = dict(
     signal='IPClusterStop.signal',
 )
 stop_aliases.update(base_aliases)
 
 class IPClusterStop(BaseParallelApplication):
     name = u'ipcluster'
     description = stop_help
     examples = _stop_examples
     config_file_name = Unicode(default_config_file_name)
     
     signal = Int(signal.SIGINT, config=True,
         help="signal to use for stopping processes.")
         
     aliases = Dict(stop_aliases)
     
     def start(self):
         """Start the app for the stop subcommand."""
         try:
             pid = self.get_pid_from_file()
         except PIDFileError:
             self.log.critical(
                 'Could not read pid file, cluster is probably not running.'
             )
             # Here I exit with a unusual exit status that other processes
             # can watch for to learn how I existed.
             self.remove_pid_file()
             self.exit(ALREADY_STOPPED)
         
         if not self.check_pid(pid):
             self.log.critical(
                 'Cluster [pid=%r] is not running.' % pid
             )
             self.remove_pid_file()
             # Here I exit with a unusual exit status that other processes
             # can watch for to learn how I existed.
             self.exit(ALREADY_STOPPED)
             
         elif os.name=='posix':
             sig = self.signal
             self.log.info(
                 "Stopping cluster [pid=%r] with [signal=%r]" % (pid, sig)
             )
             try:
                 os.kill(pid, sig)
             except OSError:
                 self.log.error("Stopping cluster failed, assuming already dead.",
                     exc_info=True)
                 self.remove_pid_file()
         elif os.name=='nt':
             try:
                 # kill the whole tree
                 p = check_call(['taskkill', '-pid', str(pid), '-t', '-f'], stdout=PIPE,stderr=PIPE)
             except (CalledProcessError, OSError):
                 self.log.error("Stopping cluster failed, assuming already dead.",
                     exc_info=True)
             self.remove_pid_file()
     
 engine_aliases = {}
 engine_aliases.update(base_aliases)
 engine_aliases.update(dict(
     n='IPClusterEngines.n',
     engines = 'IPClusterEngines.engine_launcher_class',
     daemonize = 'IPClusterEngines.daemonize',
 ))
 engine_flags = {}
 engine_flags.update(base_flags)
 
 engine_flags.update(dict(
     daemonize=(
         {'IPClusterEngines' : {'daemonize' : True}},
         """run the cluster into the background (not available on Windows)""",
     )
 ))
 class IPClusterEngines(BaseParallelApplication):
 
     name = u'ipcluster'
     description = engines_help
     examples = _engines_examples
     usage = None
     config_file_name = Unicode(default_config_file_name)
     default_log_level = logging.INFO
     classes = List()
     def _classes_default(self):
         from IPython.parallel.apps import launcher
         launchers = launcher.all_launchers
         eslaunchers = [ l for l in launchers if 'EngineSet' in l.__name__]
         return [ProfileDir]+eslaunchers
     
     n = Int(num_cpus(), config=True,
         help="""The number of engines to start. The default is to use one for each
         CPU on your machine""")
 
     engine_launcher_class = DottedObjectName('LocalEngineSetLauncher',
         config=True,
         help="""The class for launching a set of Engines. Change this value
         to use various batch systems to launch your engines, such as PBS,SGE,MPIExec,etc.
         Each launcher class has its own set of configuration options, for making sure
         it will work in your environment.
         
         You can also write your own launcher, and specify it's absolute import path,
         as in 'mymodule.launcher.FTLEnginesLauncher`.
         
         Examples include:
         
             LocalEngineSetLauncher : start engines locally as subprocesses [default]
             MPIExecEngineSetLauncher : use mpiexec to launch in an MPI environment
             PBSEngineSetLauncher : use PBS (qsub) to submit engines to a batch queue
             SGEEngineSetLauncher : use SGE (qsub) to submit engines to a batch queue
             SSHEngineSetLauncher : use SSH to start the controller
                                 Note that SSH does *not* move the connection files
                                 around, so you will likely have to do this manually
                                 unless the machines are on a shared file system.
             WindowsHPCEngineSetLauncher : use Windows HPC
         """
         )
     daemonize = Bool(False, config=True,
         help="""Daemonize the ipcluster program. This implies --log-to-file.
         Not available on Windows.
         """)
 
     def _daemonize_changed(self, name, old, new):
         if new:
             self.log_to_file = True
 
     aliases = Dict(engine_aliases)
     flags = Dict(engine_flags)
     _stopping = False
 
     def initialize(self, argv=None):
         super(IPClusterEngines, self).initialize(argv)
         self.init_signal()
         self.init_launchers()
     
     def init_launchers(self):
         self.engine_launcher = self.build_launcher(self.engine_launcher_class)
         self.engine_launcher.on_stop(lambda r: self.loop.stop())
     
     def init_signal(self):
         # Setup signals
         signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self.sigint_handler)
     
     def build_launcher(self, clsname):
         """import and instantiate a Launcher based on importstring"""
         if '.' not in clsname:
             # not a module, presume it's the raw name in apps.launcher
             clsname = 'IPython.parallel.apps.launcher.'+clsname
         # print repr(clsname)
         try:
             klass = import_item(clsname)
         except (ImportError, KeyError):
             self.log.fatal("Could not import launcher class: %r"%clsname)
             self.exit(1)
 
         launcher = klass(
-            work_dir=u'.', config=self.config, log=self.log
+            work_dir=u'.', config=self.config, log=self.log,
+            profile_dir=self.profile_dir.location, cluster_id=self.cluster_id,
         )
         return launcher
     
     def start_engines(self):
         self.log.info("Starting %i engines"%self.n)
-        self.engine_launcher.start(
-            self.n,
-            self.profile_dir.location
-        )
+        self.engine_launcher.start(self.n)
 
     def stop_engines(self):
         self.log.info("Stopping Engines...")
         if self.engine_launcher.running:
             d = self.engine_launcher.stop()
             return d
         else:
             return None
 
     def stop_launchers(self, r=None):
         if not self._stopping:
             self._stopping = True
             self.log.error("IPython cluster: stopping")
             self.stop_engines()
             # Wait a few seconds to let things shut down.
             dc = ioloop.DelayedCallback(self.loop.stop, 4000, self.loop)
             dc.start()
 
     def sigint_handler(self, signum, frame):
         self.log.debug("SIGINT received, stopping launchers...")
         self.stop_launchers()
         
     def start_logging(self):
         # Remove old log files of the controller and engine
         if self.clean_logs:
             log_dir = self.profile_dir.log_dir
             for f in os.listdir(log_dir):
                 if re.match(r'ip(engine|controller)z-\d+\.(log|err|out)',f):
                     os.remove(os.path.join(log_dir, f))
         # This will remove old log files for ipcluster itself
         # super(IPBaseParallelApplication, self).start_logging()
 
     def start(self):
         """Start the app for the engines subcommand."""
         self.log.info("IPython cluster: started")
         # First see if the cluster is already running
         
         # Now log and daemonize
         self.log.info(
             'Starting engines with [daemon=%r]' % self.daemonize
         )
         # TODO: Get daemonize working on Windows or as a Windows Server.
         if self.daemonize:
             if os.name=='posix':
                 daemonize()
 
         dc = ioloop.DelayedCallback(self.start_engines, 0, self.loop)
         dc.start()
         # Now write the new pid file AFTER our new forked pid is active.
         # self.write_pid_file()
         try:
             self.loop.start()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             pass
         except zmq.ZMQError as e:
             if e.errno == errno.EINTR:
                 pass
             else:
                 raise
 
 start_aliases = {}
 start_aliases.update(engine_aliases)
 start_aliases.update(dict(
     delay='IPClusterStart.delay',
     controller = 'IPClusterStart.controller_launcher_class',
 ))
 start_aliases['clean-logs'] = 'IPClusterStart.clean_logs'
 
 # set inherited Start keys directly, to ensure command-line args get higher priority
 # than config file options.
 for key,value in start_aliases.items():
     if value.startswith('IPClusterEngines'):
         start_aliases[key] = value.replace('IPClusterEngines', 'IPClusterStart')
 
 class IPClusterStart(IPClusterEngines):
 
     name = u'ipcluster'
     description = start_help
     examples = _start_examples
     default_log_level = logging.INFO
     auto_create = Bool(True, config=True,
         help="whether to create the profile_dir if it doesn't exist")
     classes = List()
     def _classes_default(self,):
         from IPython.parallel.apps import launcher
         return [ProfileDir] + [IPClusterEngines] + launcher.all_launchers
     
     clean_logs = Bool(True, config=True, 
         help="whether to cleanup old logs before starting")
 
     delay = CFloat(1., config=True,
         help="delay (in s) between starting the controller and the engines")
 
     controller_launcher_class = DottedObjectName('LocalControllerLauncher',
         config=True,
         helep="""The class for launching a Controller. Change this value if you want
         your controller to also be launched by a batch system, such as PBS,SGE,MPIExec,etc.
         
         Each launcher class has its own set of configuration options, for making sure
         it will work in your environment.
         
         Examples include:
         
             LocalControllerLauncher : start engines locally as subprocesses
             MPIExecControllerLauncher : use mpiexec to launch engines in an MPI universe
             PBSControllerLauncher : use PBS (qsub) to submit engines to a batch queue
             SGEControllerLauncher : use SGE (qsub) to submit engines to a batch queue
             SSHControllerLauncher : use SSH to start the controller
             WindowsHPCControllerLauncher : use Windows HPC
         """
         )
     reset = Bool(False, config=True,
         help="Whether to reset config files as part of '--create'."
         )
     
     # flags = Dict(flags)
     aliases = Dict(start_aliases)
 
     def init_launchers(self):
         self.controller_launcher = self.build_launcher(self.controller_launcher_class)
         self.engine_launcher = self.build_launcher(self.engine_launcher_class)
         self.controller_launcher.on_stop(self.stop_launchers)
     
     def start_controller(self):
-        self.controller_launcher.start(
-            self.profile_dir.location
-        )
+        self.controller_launcher.start()
         
     def stop_controller(self):
         # self.log.info("In stop_controller")
         if self.controller_launcher and self.controller_launcher.running:
             return self.controller_launcher.stop()
 
     def stop_launchers(self, r=None):
         if not self._stopping:
             self.stop_controller()
             super(IPClusterStart, self).stop_launchers()
 
     def start(self):
         """Start the app for the start subcommand."""
         # First see if the cluster is already running
         try:
             pid = self.get_pid_from_file()
         except PIDFileError:
             pass
         else:
             if self.check_pid(pid):
                 self.log.critical(
                     'Cluster is already running with [pid=%s]. '
                     'use "ipcluster stop" to stop the cluster.' % pid
                 )
                 # Here I exit with a unusual exit status that other processes
                 # can watch for to learn how I existed.
                 self.exit(ALREADY_STARTED)
             else:
                 self.remove_pid_file()
                 
 
         # Now log and daemonize
         self.log.info(
             'Starting ipcluster with [daemon=%r]' % self.daemonize
         )
         # TODO: Get daemonize working on Windows or as a Windows Server.
         if self.daemonize:
             if os.name=='posix':
                 daemonize()
 
         dc = ioloop.DelayedCallback(self.start_controller, 0, self.loop)
         dc.start()
         dc = ioloop.DelayedCallback(self.start_engines, 1000*self.delay, self.loop)
         dc.start()
         # Now write the new pid file AFTER our new forked pid is active.
         self.write_pid_file()
         try:
             self.loop.start()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             pass
         except zmq.ZMQError as e:
             if e.errno == errno.EINTR:
                 pass
             else:
                 raise
         finally:
             self.remove_pid_file()
 
 base='IPython.parallel.apps.ipclusterapp.IPCluster'
 
 class IPClusterApp(Application):
     name = u'ipcluster'
     description = _description
     examples = _main_examples
 
     subcommands = {
                 'start' : (base+'Start', start_help),
                 'stop' : (base+'Stop', stop_help),
                 'engines' : (base+'Engines', engines_help),
     }
     
     # no aliases or flags for parent App
     aliases = Dict()
     flags = Dict()
     
     def start(self):
         if self.subapp is None:
             print "No subcommand specified. Must specify one of: %s"%(self.subcommands.keys())
             print
             self.print_description()
             self.print_subcommands()
             self.exit(1)
         else:
             return self.subapp.start()
 
 def launch_new_instance():
     """Create and run the IPython cluster."""
     app = IPClusterApp.instance()
     app.initialize()
     app.start()
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     launch_new_instance()
 

IPython/parallel/apps/launcher.py

@@ -1,1152 +1,1169
 # encoding: utf-8
 """
 Facilities for launching IPython processes asynchronously.
 
 Authors:
 
 * Brian Granger
 * MinRK
 """
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #  Copyright (C) 2008-2011  The IPython Development Team
 #
 #  Distributed under the terms of the BSD License.  The full license is in
 #  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 import copy
 import logging
 import os
 import re
 import stat
 import time
 
 # signal imports, handling various platforms, versions
 
 from signal import SIGINT, SIGTERM
 try:
     from signal import SIGKILL
 except ImportError:
     # Windows
     SIGKILL=SIGTERM
 
 try:
     # Windows >= 2.7, 3.2
     from signal import CTRL_C_EVENT as SIGINT
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 try:
     from subprocess import check_output
 except ImportError:
     # pre-2.7, define check_output with Popen
     def check_output(*args, **kwargs):
         kwargs.update(dict(stdout=PIPE))
         p = Popen(*args, **kwargs)
         out,err = p.communicate()
         return out
 
 from zmq.eventloop import ioloop
 
 from IPython.config.application import Application
 from IPython.config.configurable import LoggingConfigurable
 from IPython.utils.text import EvalFormatter
-from IPython.utils.traitlets import Any, Int, CFloat, List, Unicode, Dict, Instance
+from IPython.utils.traitlets import (
+    Any, Int, CFloat, List, Unicode, Dict, Instance, HasTraits,
+)
 from IPython.utils.path import get_ipython_module_path
 from IPython.utils.process import find_cmd, pycmd2argv, FindCmdError
 
 from .win32support import forward_read_events
 
 from .winhpcjob import IPControllerTask, IPEngineTask, IPControllerJob, IPEngineSetJob
 
 WINDOWS = os.name == 'nt'
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Paths to the kernel apps
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 ipcluster_cmd_argv = pycmd2argv(get_ipython_module_path(
     'IPython.parallel.apps.ipclusterapp'
 ))
 
 ipengine_cmd_argv = pycmd2argv(get_ipython_module_path(
     'IPython.parallel.apps.ipengineapp'
 ))
 
 ipcontroller_cmd_argv = pycmd2argv(get_ipython_module_path(
     'IPython.parallel.apps.ipcontrollerapp'
 ))
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Base launchers and errors
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 class LauncherError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
 class ProcessStateError(LauncherError):
     pass
 
 
 class UnknownStatus(LauncherError):
     pass
 
 
 class BaseLauncher(LoggingConfigurable):
     """An asbtraction for starting, stopping and signaling a process."""
 
     # In all of the launchers, the work_dir is where child processes will be
     # run. This will usually be the profile_dir, but may not be. any work_dir
     # passed into the __init__ method will override the config value.
     # This should not be used to set the work_dir for the actual engine
     # and controller. Instead, use their own config files or the
     # controller_args, engine_args attributes of the launchers to add
     # the work_dir option.
     work_dir = Unicode(u'.')
     loop = Instance('zmq.eventloop.ioloop.IOLoop')
     
     start_data = Any()
     stop_data = Any()
     
     def _loop_default(self):
         return ioloop.IOLoop.instance()
 
     def __init__(self, work_dir=u'.', config=None, **kwargs):
         super(BaseLauncher, self).__init__(work_dir=work_dir, config=config, **kwargs)
         self.state = 'before' # can be before, running, after
         self.stop_callbacks = []
         self.start_data = None
         self.stop_data = None
 
     @property
     def args(self):
         """A list of cmd and args that will be used to start the process.
 
         This is what is passed to :func:`spawnProcess` and the first element
         will be the process name.
         """
         return self.find_args()
 
     def find_args(self):
         """The ``.args`` property calls this to find the args list.
 
         Subcommand should implement this to construct the cmd and args.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('find_args must be implemented in a subclass')
 
     @property
     def arg_str(self):
         """The string form of the program arguments."""
         return ' '.join(self.args)
 
     @property
     def running(self):
         """Am I running."""
         if self.state == 'running':
             return True
         else:
             return False
 
     def start(self):
         """Start the process."""
         raise NotImplementedError('start must be implemented in a subclass')
 
     def stop(self):
         """Stop the process and notify observers of stopping.
 
         This method will return None immediately.
         To observe the actual process stopping, see :meth:`on_stop`.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('stop must be implemented in a subclass')
 
     def on_stop(self, f):
         """Register a callback to be called with this Launcher's stop_data
         when the process actually finishes.
         """
         if self.state=='after':
             return f(self.stop_data)
         else:
             self.stop_callbacks.append(f)
 
     def notify_start(self, data):
         """Call this to trigger startup actions.
 
         This logs the process startup and sets the state to 'running'.  It is
         a pass-through so it can be used as a callback.
         """
 
         self.log.info('Process %r started: %r' % (self.args[0], data))
         self.start_data = data
         self.state = 'running'
         return data
 
     def notify_stop(self, data):
         """Call this to trigger process stop actions.
 
         This logs the process stopping and sets the state to 'after'. Call
         this to trigger callbacks registered via :meth:`on_stop`."""
 
         self.log.info('Process %r stopped: %r' % (self.args[0], data))
         self.stop_data = data
         self.state = 'after'
         for i in range(len(self.stop_callbacks)):
             d = self.stop_callbacks.pop()
             d(data)
         return data
 
     def signal(self, sig):
         """Signal the process.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         sig : str or int
             'KILL', 'INT', etc., or any signal number
         """
         raise NotImplementedError('signal must be implemented in a subclass')
 
+class ClusterAppMixin(HasTraits):
+    """MixIn for cluster args as traits"""
+    cluster_args = List([])
+    profile_dir=Unicode('')
+    cluster_id=Unicode('')
+    def _profile_dir_changed(self, name, old, new):
+        self.cluster_args = []
+        if self.profile_dir:
+            self.cluster_args.extend(['--profile-dir', self.profile_dir])
+        if self.cluster_id:
+            self.cluster_args.extend(['--cluster-id', self.cluster_id])
+    _cluster_id_changed = _profile_dir_changed
+
+class ControllerMixin(ClusterAppMixin):
+    controller_cmd = List(ipcontroller_cmd_argv, config=True,
+        help="""Popen command to launch ipcontroller.""")
+    # Command line arguments to ipcontroller.
+    controller_args = List(['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
+        help="""command-line args to pass to ipcontroller""")
+
+class EngineMixin(ClusterAppMixin):
+    engine_cmd = List(ipengine_cmd_argv, config=True,
+        help="""command to launch the Engine.""")
+    # Command line arguments for ipengine.
+    engine_args = List(['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
+        help="command-line arguments to pass to ipengine"
+    )
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Local process launchers
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 class LocalProcessLauncher(BaseLauncher):
     """Start and stop an external process in an asynchronous manner.
 
     This will launch the external process with a working directory of
     ``self.work_dir``.
     """
 
     # This is used to to construct self.args, which is passed to 
     # spawnProcess.
     cmd_and_args = List([])
     poll_frequency = Int(100) # in ms
 
     def __init__(self, work_dir=u'.', config=None, **kwargs):
         super(LocalProcessLauncher, self).__init__(
             work_dir=work_dir, config=config, **kwargs
         )
         self.process = None
         self.poller = None
 
     def find_args(self):
         return self.cmd_and_args
 
     def start(self):
         if self.state == 'before':
             self.process = Popen(self.args,
                 stdout=PIPE,stderr=PIPE,stdin=PIPE,
                 env=os.environ,
                 cwd=self.work_dir
             )
             if WINDOWS:
                 self.stdout = forward_read_events(self.process.stdout)
                 self.stderr = forward_read_events(self.process.stderr)
             else:
                 self.stdout = self.process.stdout.fileno()
                 self.stderr = self.process.stderr.fileno()
             self.loop.add_handler(self.stdout, self.handle_stdout, self.loop.READ)
             self.loop.add_handler(self.stderr, self.handle_stderr, self.loop.READ)
             self.poller = ioloop.PeriodicCallback(self.poll, self.poll_frequency, self.loop)
             self.poller.start()
             self.notify_start(self.process.pid)
         else:
             s = 'The process was already started and has state: %r' % self.state
             raise ProcessStateError(s)
 
     def stop(self):
         return self.interrupt_then_kill()
 
     def signal(self, sig):
         if self.state == 'running':
             if WINDOWS and sig != SIGINT:
                 # use Windows tree-kill for better child cleanup
                 check_output(['taskkill', '-pid', str(self.process.pid), '-t', '-f'])
             else:
                 self.process.send_signal(sig)
 
     def interrupt_then_kill(self, delay=2.0):
         """Send INT, wait a delay and then send KILL."""
         try:
             self.signal(SIGINT)
         except Exception:
             self.log.debug("interrupt failed")
             pass
         self.killer  = ioloop.DelayedCallback(lambda : self.signal(SIGKILL), delay*1000, self.loop)
         self.killer.start()
 
     # callbacks, etc:
     
     def handle_stdout(self, fd, events):
         if WINDOWS:
             line = self.stdout.recv()
         else:
             line = self.process.stdout.readline()
         # a stopped process will be readable but return empty strings
         if line:
             self.log.info(line[:-1])
         else:
             self.poll()
     
     def handle_stderr(self, fd, events):
         if WINDOWS:
             line = self.stderr.recv()
         else:
             line = self.process.stderr.readline()
         # a stopped process will be readable but return empty strings
         if line:
             self.log.error(line[:-1])
         else:
             self.poll()
     
     def poll(self):
         status = self.process.poll()
         if status is not None:
             self.poller.stop()
             self.loop.remove_handler(self.stdout)
             self.loop.remove_handler(self.stderr)
             self.notify_stop(dict(exit_code=status, pid=self.process.pid))
         return status
 
-class LocalControllerLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher):
+class LocalControllerLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher, ControllerMixin):
     """Launch a controller as a regular external process."""
 
-    controller_cmd = List(ipcontroller_cmd_argv, config=True,
-        help="""Popen command to launch ipcontroller.""")
-    # Command line arguments to ipcontroller.
-    controller_args = List(['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="""command-line args to pass to ipcontroller""")
-
     def find_args(self):
-        return self.controller_cmd + self.controller_args
+        return self.controller_cmd + self.cluster_args + self.controller_args
 
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
+    def start(self):
         """Start the controller by profile_dir."""
-        self.controller_args.extend(['--profile-dir=%s'%profile_dir])
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         self.log.info("Starting LocalControllerLauncher: %r" % self.args)
         return super(LocalControllerLauncher, self).start()
 
 
-class LocalEngineLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher):
+class LocalEngineLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher, EngineMixin):
     """Launch a single engine as a regular externall process."""
 
-    engine_cmd = List(ipengine_cmd_argv, config=True,
-        help="""command to launch the Engine.""")
-    # Command line arguments for ipengine.
-    engine_args = List(['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="command-line arguments to pass to ipengine"
-    )
-
     def find_args(self):
-        return self.engine_cmd + self.engine_args
-
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
-        """Start the engine by profile_dir."""
-        self.engine_args.extend(['--profile-dir=%s'%profile_dir])
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
-        return super(LocalEngineLauncher, self).start()
+        return self.engine_cmd + self.cluster_args + self.engine_args
 
 
-class LocalEngineSetLauncher(BaseLauncher):
+class LocalEngineSetLauncher(LocalEngineLauncher):
     """Launch a set of engines as regular external processes."""
 
-    # Command line arguments for ipengine.
-    engine_args = List(
-        ['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="command-line arguments to pass to ipengine"
-    )
     delay = CFloat(0.1, config=True,
         help="""delay (in seconds) between starting each engine after the first.
         This can help force the engines to get their ids in order, or limit
         process flood when starting many engines."""
     )
     
     # launcher class
     launcher_class = LocalEngineLauncher
     
     launchers = Dict()
     stop_data = Dict()
     
     def __init__(self, work_dir=u'.', config=None, **kwargs):
         super(LocalEngineSetLauncher, self).__init__(
             work_dir=work_dir, config=config, **kwargs
         )
         self.stop_data = {}
 
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n engines by profile or profile_dir."""
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         dlist = []
         for i in range(n):
             if i > 0:
                 time.sleep(self.delay)
-            el = self.launcher_class(work_dir=self.work_dir, config=self.config, log=self.log)
+            el = self.launcher_class(work_dir=self.work_dir, config=self.config, log=self.log,
+                                    profile_dir=self.profile_dir, cluster_id=self.cluster_id,
+            )
+            
             # Copy the engine args over to each engine launcher.
+            el.engine_cmd = copy.deepcopy(self.engine_cmd)
             el.engine_args = copy.deepcopy(self.engine_args)
             el.on_stop(self._notice_engine_stopped)
-            d = el.start(profile_dir)
+            d = el.start()
             if i==0:
                 self.log.info("Starting LocalEngineSetLauncher: %r" % el.args)
             self.launchers[i] = el
             dlist.append(d)
         self.notify_start(dlist)
-        # The consumeErrors here could be dangerous
-        # dfinal = gatherBoth(dlist, consumeErrors=True)
-        # dfinal.addCallback(self.notify_start)
         return dlist
 
     def find_args(self):
         return ['engine set']
 
     def signal(self, sig):
         dlist = []
         for el in self.launchers.itervalues():
             d = el.signal(sig)
             dlist.append(d)
-        # dfinal = gatherBoth(dlist, consumeErrors=True)
         return dlist
 
     def interrupt_then_kill(self, delay=1.0):
         dlist = []
         for el in self.launchers.itervalues():
             d = el.interrupt_then_kill(delay)
             dlist.append(d)
-        # dfinal = gatherBoth(dlist, consumeErrors=True)
         return dlist
 
     def stop(self):
         return self.interrupt_then_kill()
     
     def _notice_engine_stopped(self, data):
         pid = data['pid']
         for idx,el in self.launchers.iteritems():
             if el.process.pid == pid:
                 break
         self.launchers.pop(idx)
         self.stop_data[idx] = data
         if not self.launchers:
             self.notify_stop(self.stop_data)
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # MPIExec launchers
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 class MPIExecLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher):
     """Launch an external process using mpiexec."""
 
     mpi_cmd = List(['mpiexec'], config=True,
         help="The mpiexec command to use in starting the process."
     )
     mpi_args = List([], config=True,
         help="The command line arguments to pass to mpiexec."
     )
-    program = List(['date'], config=True,
+    program = List(['date'],
         help="The program to start via mpiexec.")
-    program_args = List([], config=True,
+    program_args = List([],
         help="The command line argument to the program."
     )
     n = Int(1)
 
     def find_args(self):
         """Build self.args using all the fields."""
         return self.mpi_cmd + ['-n', str(self.n)] + self.mpi_args + \
                self.program + self.program_args
 
     def start(self, n):
         """Start n instances of the program using mpiexec."""
         self.n = n
         return super(MPIExecLauncher, self).start()
 
 
-class MPIExecControllerLauncher(MPIExecLauncher):
+class MPIExecControllerLauncher(MPIExecLauncher, ControllerMixin):
     """Launch a controller using mpiexec."""
 
-    controller_cmd = List(ipcontroller_cmd_argv, config=True,
-        help="Popen command to launch the Contropper"
-    )
-    controller_args = List(['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="Command line arguments to pass to ipcontroller."
-    )
-    n = Int(1)
+    # alias back to *non-configurable* program[_args] for use in find_args()
+    # this way all Controller/EngineSetLaunchers have the same form, rather
+    # than *some* having `program_args` and others `controller_args`
+    @property
+    def program(self):
+        return self.controller_cmd
 
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
+    @property
+    def program_args(self):
+        return self.cluster_args + self.controller_args
+
+    def start(self):
         """Start the controller by profile_dir."""
-        self.controller_args.extend(['--profile-dir=%s'%profile_dir])
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         self.log.info("Starting MPIExecControllerLauncher: %r" % self.args)
         return super(MPIExecControllerLauncher, self).start(1)
 
-    def find_args(self):
-        return self.mpi_cmd + ['-n', str(self.n)] + self.mpi_args + \
-               self.controller_cmd + self.controller_args
 
+class MPIExecEngineSetLauncher(MPIExecLauncher, EngineMixin):
+    """Launch engines using mpiexec"""
 
-class MPIExecEngineSetLauncher(MPIExecLauncher):
+    # alias back to *non-configurable* program[_args] for use in find_args()
+    # this way all Controller/EngineSetLaunchers have the same form, rather
+    # than *some* having `program_args` and others `controller_args`
+    @property
+    def program(self):
+        return self.engine_cmd
 
-    program = List(ipengine_cmd_argv, config=True,
-        help="Popen command for ipengine"
-    )
-    program_args = List(
-        ['--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="Command line arguments for ipengine."
-    )
-    n = Int(1)
+    @property
+    def program_args(self):
+        return self.cluster_args + self.engine_args
 
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n engines by profile or profile_dir."""
-        self.program_args.extend(['--profile-dir=%s'%profile_dir])
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         self.n = n
         self.log.info('Starting MPIExecEngineSetLauncher: %r' % self.args)
         return super(MPIExecEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n)
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # SSH launchers
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # TODO: Get SSH Launcher back to level of sshx in 0.10.2
 
 class SSHLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher):
     """A minimal launcher for ssh.
 
     To be useful this will probably have to be extended to use the ``sshx``
     idea for environment variables.  There could be other things this needs
     as well.
     """
 
     ssh_cmd = List(['ssh'], config=True,
         help="command for starting ssh")
     ssh_args = List(['-tt'], config=True,
         help="args to pass to ssh")
-    program = List(['date'], config=True,
+    program = List(['date'],
         help="Program to launch via ssh")
-    program_args = List([], config=True,
+    program_args = List([],
         help="args to pass to remote program")
     hostname = Unicode('', config=True,
         help="hostname on which to launch the program")
     user = Unicode('', config=True,
         help="username for ssh")
     location = Unicode('', config=True,
         help="user@hostname location for ssh in one setting")
 
     def _hostname_changed(self, name, old, new):
         if self.user:
             self.location = u'%s@%s' % (self.user, new)
         else:
             self.location = new
 
     def _user_changed(self, name, old, new):
         self.location = u'%s@%s' % (new, self.hostname)
 
     def find_args(self):
         return self.ssh_cmd + self.ssh_args + [self.location] + \
                self.program + self.program_args
 
-    def start(self, profile_dir, hostname=None, user=None):
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
+    def start(self, hostname=None, user=None):
         if hostname is not None:
             self.hostname = hostname
         if user is not None:
             self.user = user
         
         return super(SSHLauncher, self).start()
     
     def signal(self, sig):
         if self.state == 'running':
             # send escaped ssh connection-closer
             self.process.stdin.write('~.')
             self.process.stdin.flush()
         
 
 
-class SSHControllerLauncher(SSHLauncher):
+class SSHControllerLauncher(SSHLauncher, ControllerMixin):
 
-    program = List(ipcontroller_cmd_argv, config=True,
-        help="remote ipcontroller command.")
-    program_args = List(['--reuse-files', '--log-to-file','--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="Command line arguments to ipcontroller.")
+    # alias back to *non-configurable* program[_args] for use in find_args()
+    # this way all Controller/EngineSetLaunchers have the same form, rather
+    # than *some* having `program_args` and others `controller_args`
+    @property
+    def program(self):
+        return self.controller_cmd
 
+    @property
+    def program_args(self):
+        return self.cluster_args + self.controller_args
+
+
+class SSHEngineLauncher(SSHLauncher, EngineMixin):
+
+    # alias back to *non-configurable* program[_args] for use in find_args()
+    # this way all Controller/EngineSetLaunchers have the same form, rather
+    # than *some* having `program_args` and others `controller_args`
+    @property
+    def program(self):
+        return self.engine_cmd
+    
+    @property
+    def program_args(self):
+        return self.cluster_args + self.engine_args
 
-class SSHEngineLauncher(SSHLauncher):
-    program = List(ipengine_cmd_argv, config=True,
-        help="remote ipengine command.")
-    # Command line arguments for ipengine.
-    program_args = List(
-        ['--log-to-file','--log_level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
-        help="Command line arguments to ipengine."
-    )
     
 class SSHEngineSetLauncher(LocalEngineSetLauncher):
     launcher_class = SSHEngineLauncher
     engines = Dict(config=True,
         help="""dict of engines to launch.  This is a dict by hostname of ints,
         corresponding to the number of engines to start on that host.""")
     
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start engines by profile or profile_dir.
         `n` is ignored, and the `engines` config property is used instead.
         """
         
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         dlist = []
         for host, n in self.engines.iteritems():
             if isinstance(n, (tuple, list)):
                 n, args = n
             else:
                 args = copy.deepcopy(self.engine_args)
             
             if '@' in host:
                 user,host = host.split('@',1)
             else:
                 user=None
             for i in range(n):
                 if i > 0:
                     time.sleep(self.delay)
-                el = self.launcher_class(work_dir=self.work_dir, config=self.config, log=self.log)
+                el = self.launcher_class(work_dir=self.work_dir, config=self.config, log=self.log,
+                                        profile_dir=self.profile_dir, cluster_id=self.cluster_id,
+                )
                 
                 # Copy the engine args over to each engine launcher.
-                i
-                el.program_args = args
+                el.engine_cmd = self.engine_cmd
+                el.engine_args = args
                 el.on_stop(self._notice_engine_stopped)
-                d = el.start(profile_dir, user=user, hostname=host)
+                d = el.start(user=user, hostname=host)
                 if i==0:
                     self.log.info("Starting SSHEngineSetLauncher: %r" % el.args)
                 self.launchers[host+str(i)] = el
                 dlist.append(d)
         self.notify_start(dlist)
         return dlist
     
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Windows HPC Server 2008 scheduler launchers
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 # This is only used on Windows.
 def find_job_cmd():
     if WINDOWS:
         try:
             return find_cmd('job')
         except (FindCmdError, ImportError):
             # ImportError will be raised if win32api is not installed
             return 'job'
     else:
         return 'job'
 
 
 class WindowsHPCLauncher(BaseLauncher):
 
     job_id_regexp = Unicode(r'\d+', config=True,
         help="""A regular expression used to get the job id from the output of the
         submit_command. """
         )
     job_file_name = Unicode(u'ipython_job.xml', config=True,
         help="The filename of the instantiated job script.")
     # The full path to the instantiated job script. This gets made dynamically
     # by combining the work_dir with the job_file_name.
     job_file = Unicode(u'')
     scheduler = Unicode('', config=True,
         help="The hostname of the scheduler to submit the job to.")
     job_cmd = Unicode(find_job_cmd(), config=True,
         help="The command for submitting jobs.")
 
     def __init__(self, work_dir=u'.', config=None, **kwargs):
         super(WindowsHPCLauncher, self).__init__(
             work_dir=work_dir, config=config, **kwargs
         )
 
     @property
     def job_file(self):
         return os.path.join(self.work_dir, self.job_file_name)
 
     def write_job_file(self, n):
         raise NotImplementedError("Implement write_job_file in a subclass.")
 
     def find_args(self):
         return [u'job.exe']
         
     def parse_job_id(self, output):
         """Take the output of the submit command and return the job id."""
         m = re.search(self.job_id_regexp, output)
         if m is not None:
             job_id = m.group()
         else:
             raise LauncherError("Job id couldn't be determined: %s" % output)
         self.job_id = job_id
         self.log.info('Job started with job id: %r' % job_id)
         return job_id
 
     def start(self, n):
         """Start n copies of the process using the Win HPC job scheduler."""
         self.write_job_file(n)
         args = [
             'submit',
             '/jobfile:%s' % self.job_file,
             '/scheduler:%s' % self.scheduler
         ]
         self.log.info("Starting Win HPC Job: %s" % (self.job_cmd + ' ' + ' '.join(args),))
 
         output = check_output([self.job_cmd]+args,
             env=os.environ,
             cwd=self.work_dir,
             stderr=STDOUT
         )
         job_id = self.parse_job_id(output)
         self.notify_start(job_id)
         return job_id
 
     def stop(self):
         args = [
             'cancel',
             self.job_id,
             '/scheduler:%s' % self.scheduler
         ]
         self.log.info("Stopping Win HPC Job: %s" % (self.job_cmd + ' ' + ' '.join(args),))
         try:
             output = check_output([self.job_cmd]+args,
                 env=os.environ,
                 cwd=self.work_dir,
                 stderr=STDOUT
             )
         except:
             output = 'The job already appears to be stoppped: %r' % self.job_id
         self.notify_stop(dict(job_id=self.job_id, output=output))  # Pass the output of the kill cmd
         return output
 
 
-class WindowsHPCControllerLauncher(WindowsHPCLauncher):
+class WindowsHPCControllerLauncher(WindowsHPCLauncher, ClusterAppMixin):
 
     job_file_name = Unicode(u'ipcontroller_job.xml', config=True,
         help="WinHPC xml job file.")
-    extra_args = List([], config=False,
+    controller_args = List([], config=False,
         help="extra args to pass to ipcontroller")
 
     def write_job_file(self, n):
         job = IPControllerJob(config=self.config)
 
         t = IPControllerTask(config=self.config)
         # The tasks work directory is *not* the actual work directory of 
         # the controller. It is used as the base path for the stdout/stderr
         # files that the scheduler redirects to.
         t.work_directory = self.profile_dir
         # Add the profile_dir and from self.start().
-        t.controller_args.extend(self.extra_args)
+        t.controller_args.extend(self.cluster_args)
+        t.controller_args.extend(self.controller_args)
         job.add_task(t)
 
         self.log.info("Writing job description file: %s" % self.job_file)
         job.write(self.job_file)
 
     @property
     def job_file(self):
         return os.path.join(self.profile_dir, self.job_file_name)
 
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
+    def start(self):
         """Start the controller by profile_dir."""
-        self.extra_args = ['--profile-dir=%s'%profile_dir]
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         return super(WindowsHPCControllerLauncher, self).start(1)
 
 
-class WindowsHPCEngineSetLauncher(WindowsHPCLauncher):
+class WindowsHPCEngineSetLauncher(WindowsHPCLauncher, ClusterAppMixin):
 
     job_file_name = Unicode(u'ipengineset_job.xml', config=True,
         help="jobfile for ipengines job")
-    extra_args = List([], config=False,
+    engine_args = List([], config=False,
         help="extra args to pas to ipengine")
 
     def write_job_file(self, n):
         job = IPEngineSetJob(config=self.config)
 
         for i in range(n):
             t = IPEngineTask(config=self.config)
             # The tasks work directory is *not* the actual work directory of 
             # the engine. It is used as the base path for the stdout/stderr
             # files that the scheduler redirects to.
             t.work_directory = self.profile_dir
             # Add the profile_dir and from self.start().
-            t.engine_args.extend(self.extra_args)
+            t.controller_args.extend(self.cluster_args)
+            t.controller_args.extend(self.engine_args)
             job.add_task(t)
 
         self.log.info("Writing job description file: %s" % self.job_file)
         job.write(self.job_file)
 
     @property
     def job_file(self):
         return os.path.join(self.profile_dir, self.job_file_name)
 
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start the controller by profile_dir."""
-        self.extra_args = ['--profile-dir=%s'%profile_dir]
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         return super(WindowsHPCEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n)
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Batch (PBS) system launchers
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+class BatchClusterAppMixin(ClusterAppMixin):
+    """ClusterApp mixin that updates context dict, rather than args"""
+    context = Dict({'profile_dir':'', 'cluster_id':''})
+    def _profile_dir_changed(self, name, old, new):
+        self.context[name] = new
+    _cluster_id_changed = _profile_dir_changed
+
 class BatchSystemLauncher(BaseLauncher):
     """Launch an external process using a batch system.
 
     This class is designed to work with UNIX batch systems like PBS, LSF,
     GridEngine, etc.  The overall model is that there are different commands
     like qsub, qdel, etc. that handle the starting and stopping of the process.
 
     This class also has the notion of a batch script. The ``batch_template``
     attribute can be set to a string that is a template for the batch script.
     This template is instantiated using string formatting. Thus the template can
     use {n} fot the number of instances. Subclasses can add additional variables
     to the template dict.
     """
 
     # Subclasses must fill these in.  See PBSEngineSet
     submit_command = List([''], config=True,
         help="The name of the command line program used to submit jobs.")
     delete_command = List([''], config=True,
         help="The name of the command line program used to delete jobs.")
     job_id_regexp = Unicode('', config=True,
         help="""A regular expression used to get the job id from the output of the
         submit_command.""")
     batch_template = Unicode('', config=True,
         help="The string that is the batch script template itself.")
     batch_template_file = Unicode(u'', config=True,
         help="The file that contains the batch template.")
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'batch_script', config=True,
         help="The filename of the instantiated batch script.")
     queue = Unicode(u'', config=True,
         help="The PBS Queue.")
     
+    def _queue_changed(self, name, old, new):
+        self.context[name] = new
+    
+    n = Int(1)
+    _n_changed = _queue_changed
+    
     # not configurable, override in subclasses
     # PBS Job Array regex
     job_array_regexp = Unicode('')
     job_array_template = Unicode('')
     # PBS Queue regex
     queue_regexp = Unicode('')
     queue_template = Unicode('')
     # The default batch template, override in subclasses
     default_template = Unicode('')
     # The full path to the instantiated batch script.
     batch_file = Unicode(u'')
     # the format dict used with batch_template:
     context = Dict()
     # the Formatter instance for rendering the templates:
     formatter = Instance(EvalFormatter, (), {})
 
     
     def find_args(self):
         return self.submit_command + [self.batch_file]
     
     def __init__(self, work_dir=u'.', config=None, **kwargs):
         super(BatchSystemLauncher, self).__init__(
             work_dir=work_dir, config=config, **kwargs
         )
         self.batch_file = os.path.join(self.work_dir, self.batch_file_name)
 
     def parse_job_id(self, output):
         """Take the output of the submit command and return the job id."""
         m = re.search(self.job_id_regexp, output)
         if m is not None:
             job_id = m.group()
         else:
             raise LauncherError("Job id couldn't be determined: %s" % output)
         self.job_id = job_id
         self.log.info('Job submitted with job id: %r' % job_id)
         return job_id
 
     def write_batch_script(self, n):
         """Instantiate and write the batch script to the work_dir."""
-        self.context['n'] = n
-        self.context['queue'] = self.queue
+        self.n = n
         # first priority is batch_template if set
         if self.batch_template_file and not self.batch_template:
             # second priority is batch_template_file
             with open(self.batch_template_file) as f:
                 self.batch_template = f.read()
         if not self.batch_template:
             # third (last) priority is default_template
             self.batch_template = self.default_template
         
             # add jobarray or queue lines to user-specified template
             # note that this is *only* when user did not specify a template.
             regex = re.compile(self.job_array_regexp)
             # print regex.search(self.batch_template)
             if not regex.search(self.batch_template):
                 self.log.info("adding job array settings to batch script")
                 firstline, rest = self.batch_template.split('\n',1)
                 self.batch_template = u'\n'.join([firstline, self.job_array_template, rest])
         
             regex = re.compile(self.queue_regexp)
             # print regex.search(self.batch_template)
             if self.queue and not regex.search(self.batch_template):
                 self.log.info("adding PBS queue settings to batch script")
                 firstline, rest = self.batch_template.split('\n',1)
                 self.batch_template = u'\n'.join([firstline, self.queue_template, rest])
             
         script_as_string = self.formatter.format(self.batch_template, **self.context)
         self.log.info('Writing instantiated batch script: %s' % self.batch_file)
     
         with open(self.batch_file, 'w') as f:
             f.write(script_as_string)
         os.chmod(self.batch_file, stat.S_IRUSR | stat.S_IWUSR | stat.S_IXUSR)
 
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n copies of the process using a batch system."""
         # Here we save profile_dir in the context so they
         # can be used in the batch script template as {profile_dir}
-        self.context['profile_dir'] = profile_dir
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         self.write_batch_script(n)
         output = check_output(self.args, env=os.environ)
         
         job_id = self.parse_job_id(output)
         self.notify_start(job_id)
         return job_id
 
     def stop(self):
         output = check_output(self.delete_command+[self.job_id], env=os.environ)
         self.notify_stop(dict(job_id=self.job_id, output=output)) # Pass the output of the kill cmd
         return output
 
 
 class PBSLauncher(BatchSystemLauncher):
     """A BatchSystemLauncher subclass for PBS."""
 
     submit_command = List(['qsub'], config=True,
         help="The PBS submit command ['qsub']")
     delete_command = List(['qdel'], config=True,
         help="The PBS delete command ['qsub']")
     job_id_regexp = Unicode(r'\d+', config=True,
         help="Regular expresion for identifying the job ID [r'\d+']")
     
     batch_file = Unicode(u'')
     job_array_regexp = Unicode('#PBS\W+-t\W+[\w\d\-\$]+')
     job_array_template = Unicode('#PBS -t 1-{n}')
     queue_regexp = Unicode('#PBS\W+-q\W+\$?\w+')
     queue_template = Unicode('#PBS -q {queue}')
 
 
-class PBSControllerLauncher(PBSLauncher):
+class PBSControllerLauncher(BatchClusterAppMixin, PBSLauncher):
     """Launch a controller using PBS."""
 
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'pbs_controller', config=True,
         help="batch file name for the controller job.")
     default_template= Unicode("""#!/bin/sh
 #PBS -V
 #PBS -N ipcontroller
-%s --log-to-file --profile-dir={profile_dir}
+%s --log-to-file --profile-dir="{profile_dir}" --cluster-id="{cluster_id}"
 """%(' '.join(ipcontroller_cmd_argv)))
 
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
+    
+    def start(self):
         """Start the controller by profile or profile_dir."""
         self.log.info("Starting PBSControllerLauncher: %r" % self.args)
-        return super(PBSControllerLauncher, self).start(1, profile_dir)
+        return super(PBSControllerLauncher, self).start(1)
 
 
-class PBSEngineSetLauncher(PBSLauncher):
+class PBSEngineSetLauncher(BatchClusterAppMixin, PBSLauncher):
     """Launch Engines using PBS"""
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'pbs_engines', config=True,
         help="batch file name for the engine(s) job.")
     default_template= Unicode(u"""#!/bin/sh
 #PBS -V
 #PBS -N ipengine
-%s --profile-dir={profile_dir}
+%s --profile-dir="{profile_dir}" --cluster-id="{cluster_id}"
 """%(' '.join(ipengine_cmd_argv)))
 
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n engines by profile or profile_dir."""
         self.log.info('Starting %i engines with PBSEngineSetLauncher: %r' % (n, self.args))
-        return super(PBSEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n, profile_dir)
+        return super(PBSEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n)
 
 #SGE is very similar to PBS
 
 class SGELauncher(PBSLauncher):
     """Sun GridEngine is a PBS clone with slightly different syntax"""
     job_array_regexp = Unicode('#\$\W+\-t')
     job_array_template = Unicode('#$ -t 1-{n}')
     queue_regexp = Unicode('#\$\W+-q\W+\$?\w+')
     queue_template = Unicode('#$ -q {queue}')
 
-class SGEControllerLauncher(SGELauncher):
+class SGEControllerLauncher(BatchClusterAppMixin, SGELauncher):
     """Launch a controller using SGE."""
 
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'sge_controller', config=True,
         help="batch file name for the ipontroller job.")
     default_template= Unicode(u"""#$ -V
 #$ -S /bin/sh
 #$ -N ipcontroller
-%s --log-to-file --profile-dir={profile_dir}
+%s --log-to-file --profile-dir="{profile_dir}" --cluster-id="{cluster_id}"
 """%(' '.join(ipcontroller_cmd_argv)))
 
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
+    def start(self):
         """Start the controller by profile or profile_dir."""
         self.log.info("Starting PBSControllerLauncher: %r" % self.args)
-        return super(SGEControllerLauncher, self).start(1, profile_dir)
+        return super(SGEControllerLauncher, self).start(1)
 
-class SGEEngineSetLauncher(SGELauncher):
+class SGEEngineSetLauncher(BatchClusterAppMixin, SGELauncher):
     """Launch Engines with SGE"""
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'sge_engines', config=True,
         help="batch file name for the engine(s) job.")
     default_template = Unicode("""#$ -V
 #$ -S /bin/sh
 #$ -N ipengine
-%s --profile-dir={profile_dir}
+%s --profile-dir="{profile_dir}" --cluster-id="{cluster_id}"
 """%(' '.join(ipengine_cmd_argv)))
 
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n engines by profile or profile_dir."""
         self.log.info('Starting %i engines with SGEEngineSetLauncher: %r' % (n, self.args))
-        return super(SGEEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n, profile_dir)
+        return super(SGEEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n)
 
 
 # LSF launchers
 
 class LSFLauncher(BatchSystemLauncher):
     """A BatchSystemLauncher subclass for LSF."""
     
     submit_command = List(['bsub'], config=True,
                           help="The PBS submit command ['bsub']")
     delete_command = List(['bkill'], config=True,
                           help="The PBS delete command ['bkill']")
     job_id_regexp = Unicode(r'\d+', config=True,
                             help="Regular expresion for identifying the job ID [r'\d+']")
     
     batch_file = Unicode(u'')
     job_array_regexp = Unicode('#BSUB[ \t]-J+\w+\[\d+-\d+\]')
     job_array_template = Unicode('#BSUB -J ipengine[1-{n}]')
     queue_regexp = Unicode('#BSUB[ \t]+-q[ \t]+\w+')
     queue_template = Unicode('#BSUB -q {queue}')
     
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n copies of the process using LSF batch system.
         This cant inherit from the base class because bsub expects
         to be piped a shell script in order to honor the #BSUB directives :
         bsub < script
         """
         # Here we save profile_dir in the context so they
         # can be used in the batch script template as {profile_dir}
-        self.context['profile_dir'] = profile_dir
-        self.profile_dir = unicode(profile_dir)
         self.write_batch_script(n)
         #output = check_output(self.args, env=os.environ)
         piped_cmd = self.args[0]+'<\"'+self.args[1]+'\"'
         p = Popen(piped_cmd, shell=True,env=os.environ,stdout=PIPE)
         output,err = p.communicate()
         job_id = self.parse_job_id(output)
         self.notify_start(job_id)
         return job_id
 
 
-class LSFControllerLauncher(LSFLauncher):
+class LSFControllerLauncher(BatchClusterAppMixin, LSFLauncher):
     """Launch a controller using LSF."""
     
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'lsf_controller', config=True,
                               help="batch file name for the controller job.")
     default_template= Unicode("""#!/bin/sh
     #BSUB -J ipcontroller
     #BSUB -oo ipcontroller.o.%%J 
     #BSUB -eo ipcontroller.e.%%J 
-    %s --log-to-file --profile-dir={profile_dir}
+    %s --log-to-file --profile-dir="{profile_dir}" --cluster-id="{cluster_id}"
     """%(' '.join(ipcontroller_cmd_argv)))
     
-    def start(self, profile_dir):
+    def start(self):
         """Start the controller by profile or profile_dir."""
         self.log.info("Starting LSFControllerLauncher: %r" % self.args)
-        return super(LSFControllerLauncher, self).start(1, profile_dir)
+        return super(LSFControllerLauncher, self).start(1)
 
 
-class LSFEngineSetLauncher(LSFLauncher):
+class LSFEngineSetLauncher(BatchClusterAppMixin, LSFLauncher):
     """Launch Engines using LSF"""
     batch_file_name = Unicode(u'lsf_engines', config=True,
                               help="batch file name for the engine(s) job.")
     default_template= Unicode(u"""#!/bin/sh
     #BSUB -oo ipengine.o.%%J 
     #BSUB -eo ipengine.e.%%J 
-    %s --profile-dir={profile_dir}
+    %s --profile-dir="{profile_dir}" --cluster-id="{cluster_id}"
     """%(' '.join(ipengine_cmd_argv)))
     
-    def start(self, n, profile_dir):
+    def start(self, n):
         """Start n engines by profile or profile_dir."""
         self.log.info('Starting %i engines with LSFEngineSetLauncher: %r' % (n, self.args))
-        return super(LSFEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n, profile_dir)
+        return super(LSFEngineSetLauncher, self).start(n)
 
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # A launcher for ipcluster itself!
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 class IPClusterLauncher(LocalProcessLauncher):
     """Launch the ipcluster program in an external process."""
 
     ipcluster_cmd = List(ipcluster_cmd_argv, config=True,
         help="Popen command for ipcluster")
     ipcluster_args = List(
         ['--clean-logs', '--log-to-file', '--log-level=%i'%logging.INFO], config=True,
         help="Command line arguments to pass to ipcluster.")
     ipcluster_subcommand = Unicode('start')
     ipcluster_n = Int(2)
 
     def find_args(self):
         return self.ipcluster_cmd + [self.ipcluster_subcommand] + \
             ['--n=%i'%self.ipcluster_n] + self.ipcluster_args
 
     def start(self):
         self.log.info("Starting ipcluster: %r" % self.args)
         return super(IPClusterLauncher, self).start()
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Collections of launchers
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 local_launchers = [
     LocalControllerLauncher,
     LocalEngineLauncher,
     LocalEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 mpi_launchers = [
     MPIExecLauncher,
     MPIExecControllerLauncher,
     MPIExecEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 ssh_launchers = [
     SSHLauncher,
     SSHControllerLauncher,
     SSHEngineLauncher,
     SSHEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 winhpc_launchers = [
     WindowsHPCLauncher,
     WindowsHPCControllerLauncher,
     WindowsHPCEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 pbs_launchers = [
     PBSLauncher,
     PBSControllerLauncher,
     PBSEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 sge_launchers = [
     SGELauncher,
     SGEControllerLauncher,
     SGEEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 lsf_launchers = [
     LSFLauncher,
     LSFControllerLauncher,
     LSFEngineSetLauncher,
 ]
 all_launchers = local_launchers + mpi_launchers + ssh_launchers + winhpc_launchers\
                 + pbs_launchers + sge_launchers + lsf_launchers