title: Can Spark SQL be executed against Hive tables without any Map/Reduce (/Yarn) running?
body: <p>It is my understanding that Spark SQL reads hdfs files directly - no need for M/R here. Specifically none of the Map/Reduce based Hadoop Input/OutputFormat's are employed (except in special cases like HBase)</p>
  
  <p>So then are there any built-in dependencies on a functioning hive server? Or is it only required to have </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>a) Spark Standalone </li>
  <li>b) HDFS and </li>
  <li><p>c) Hive metastore server running  </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>i.e Yarn/MRV1 are <strong><em>not</em></strong> required? </li>
  </ul></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The hadoop related I/O formats for accessing hive files seem to include:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>TextInput/Output Format</li>
  <li>ParquetFileInput/Output Format</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Can  Spark SQL/Catalyst read Hive tables stored in those formats - with only the Hive Metastore server running ?</p>