---
name: "mpmetis"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "metis"
version: "5.1.0.dfsg-7+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mpmetis"
---

# mpmetis(1)

manual page for mpmetis 5.1.0

## NAME

mpmetis - manual page for mpmetis 5.1.0

## SYNOPSIS

**mpmetis** \[*options*\] *meshfile nparts*

## DESCRIPTION

-

  Required parameters

- meshfile

  Stores the mesh to be partitioned.

- nparts

  The number of partitions to split the mesh.

-

  Optional parameters

**-gtype**=*string*

-

  Specifies the graph to be used for computing the partitioning The possible values are:

- dual

  \- Partition the dual graph of the mesh \[default\]

- nodal

  \- Partition the nodal graph of the mesh

**-ptype**=*string*

-

  Specifies the scheme to be used for computing the k-way partitioning. The possible values are:

- rb

  \- Recursive bisectioning

- kway

  \- Direct k-way partitioning \[default\]

**-ctype**=*string*

-

  Specifies the scheme to be used to match the vertices of the graph during the coarsening. The possible values are:

- rm

  \- Random matching

- shem

  \- Sorted heavy-edge matching \[default\]

**-iptype**=*string* \[applies only when **-ptype**=*rb\]*

-

  Specifies the scheme to be used to compute the initial partitioning of the graph. The possible values are:

- grow

  \- Grow a bisection using a greedy strategy \[default\]

- random

  \- Compute a bisection at random

**-objtype**=*string* \[applies only when **-ptype**=*kway\]*

-

  Specifies the objective that the partitioning routines will optimize. The possible values are:

- cut

  \- Minimize the edgecut \[default\]

- vol

  \- Minimize the total communication volume

**-contig** \[applies only when **-ptype**=*kway\]*

-

  Specifies that the partitioning routines should try to produce partitions that are contiguous. Note that if the input graph is not connected this option is ignored.

**-minconn** \[applies only when **-ptype**=*kway\]*

-

  Specifies that the partitioning routines should try to minimize the maximum degree of the subdomain graph, i.e., the graph in which each partition is a node, and edges connect subdomains with a shared interface.

**-tpwgts**=*filename*

-

  Specifies the name of the file that stores the target weights for each partition. By default, all partitions are assumed to be of the same size.

**-ufactor**=*int*

-

  Specifies the maximum allowed load imbalance among the partitions. A value of x indicates that the allowed load imbalance is 1+x/1000. For ptype=rb, the load imbalance is measured as the ratio of the 2\*max(left,right)/(left+right), where left and right are the sizes of the respective partitions at each bisection. For ptype=kway, the load imbalance is measured as the ratio of max\_i(pwgts\[i\])/avgpwgt, where pwgts\[i\] is the weight of the ith partition and avgpwgt is the sum of the total vertex weights divided by the number of partitions requested. For ptype=rb, the default value is 1 (i.e., load imbalance of 1.001). For ptype=kway, the default value is 30 (i.e., load imbalance of 1.03).

**-ncommon**=*int*

-

  Specifies the common number of nodes that two elements must have in order to put an edge between them in the dual graph. Default is 1.

**-niter**=*int*

-

  Specifies the number of iterations for the refinement algorithms at each stage of the uncoarsening process. Default is 10.

**-ncuts**=*int*

-

  Specifies the number of different partitionings that it will compute. The final partitioning is the one that achieves the best edgecut or communication volume. Default is 1.

**-nooutput**

-

  Specifies that no partitioning file should be generated.

**-seed**=*int*

-

  Selects the seed of the random number generator.

**-dbglvl**=*int*

-

  Selects the dbglvl.

**-help**

-

  Prints this message.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **mpmetis** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **mpmetis** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info mpmetis**

should give you access to the complete manual.