[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V Part 5 – Configuring the Compute Nodes for the HPC Cluster

The last part showed the Head Node configuration. This part explains the Compute Nodes setup of the “Compute Node” Virtual Machines in Hyper-V. The Compute Nodes do the calculations and execute the jobs that they received from the Head Node in the HPC Cluster.

• Start the “Head Node” Virtual Machine but do not insert anything into the Virtual Machines DVD drive, go into the cluster management console and select to add Compute Nodes

• Select to deploy the Compute Nodes from an operation system image

• Start the “Compute Node” Virtual Machines but do not insert anything into the Virtual Machines DVD drive

• Now switch back to the Head Node, select the Node Template and the Compute Nodes in the list that you want to deploy

• After the deployment was finished verify in the node list that the Compute Nodes were correctly deployed (they should appear Offline)

• Activate the compute nodes by bringing them online, the HPCS cluster is now fully configured and jobs can be submitted and executed

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V
Part 5 – Configuring the Compute Nodes for the HPC Cluster

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V Part 4 – Configuring the Head Node for the HPC Cluster

The last part showed the Domain Controller configuration. This part explains the Head Node setup of the “Head Node” Virtual Machine in Hyper-V. The Head Node acts as main entry point for jobs and central managing and administration entity for the whole HPC Cluster.

• Start the “Head Node” Virtual Machine and insert the “SRVHPC_EN.iso” into the Virtual Machines DVD drive
• Boot from the ISO and Install Windows Server 2008 using the standard configuration
• After the installation was completed, reboot and insert the “HPCEval.iso” into the Virtual Machines DVD drive and start the HPC Pack installation

• Select to create a new HPC Cluster and a new database instance

• Install the required components and then start the cluster management console in the next step

• In the cluster management To-do list, select to configure the network

• Select the topology with all nodes on enterprise and private networks, specify a static IP address for the Head Node private network and use the firewall default settings

• Add the domain user credentials to the cluster user group

• Configure the Compute Node naming series and supply the base image that will later be used for the automatic deployment of Compute Nodes for the HPC Cluster (use the “SRVHPC_EN.iso” in the Virtual Machines DVD drive for this purpose, point to the “setup.exe” file)

  

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V
Part 4 – Configuring the Head Node for the HPC Cluster

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V Part 3 – Configuring the Domain Controller for the HPC Cluster

The last part showed the Virtual Machines configuration. This part explains the Domain Controller setup of the “DNS” Virtual Machine in Hyper-V that is necessary for the HPC cluster setup. The Domain Controller serves to simulate the enterprise network in a real environment.

• Start the “DNS” Virtual Machine and insert the “SRVHPC_EN.iso” into the Virtual Machines DVD drive
• Boot from the ISO and Install Windows Server 2008 using the standard configuration
• Use “dcpromo” to install the Active Directory Domain Services binaries and to promote the Server to a Domain Controller

• Create a new domain in a new forest and give it a FQDN of “HPC.Test”
• Set the forest functional level to Windows Server 2008
• Activate the DNS function in the additional Domain Controller options

• Verify the configuration and start the operation

• After the operation was finished, go into the Network Connection configuration and open the Network Card configuration

• Deactivate the TCP/IPv6 check-box and open the TCP/IPv4 configuration

• Configure a static IP address, that will be used for the Domain Controller

• In the next step add the DHCP role to the Domain Controller

• Configure the DHCP service so that it serves clients on the static IP

• Add a scope and give it a meaningful name

• Verify the installation selections and install the DHCP services

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V
Part 3 – Configuring the Domain Controller for the HPC Cluster

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V Part 2 – Configuring the Virtual Machines for the HPC Cluster

The last part showed how to prepare a Windows Server 2008 for being able to install Windows HPC Server 2008 (HPCS) in a Hyper-V environment.

This part contains the Virtual Machines configuration in the Hyper-V Manager that will be used in the next parts to set-up a DNS Server, a HPCS Head Node and 2 Compute Nodes.

• Add a new virtual network “Private virtual machine network” and name it “Cluster Private”
  

• Add a new virtual network “Internal only” and name it “Connect To Host”

• Add a new Virtual Machine in the Hyper-V Management console and name it “DNS” (will work as Domain Controller, DNS and DHCP)
• Configuration: 1 Virtual CPU, 512 MB RAM and only the “Connect To Host” virtual network

• Add a new Virtual Machine and name it “Head Node” (will work as Head Node for the HPC Cluster)
• Configuration: 1 Virtual CPU, 1024 MB RAM, the “Cluster Private” and “Connect To Host” virtual networks

• Add 2 new Virtual Machines and name them “Compute Node 1” and “Compute Node 2” (will work as Compute Nodes for the HPC Cluster, you may add more if you have more than 4 GB RAM)
• They must use the same configuration: 2 Virtual CPUs, 512 MB RAM, the “Cluster Private” and “Connect To Host” virtual networks

• In the end you will have 4 Virtual machines, ready to be installed

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V
Part 2 – Configuring the Virtual Machines for the HPC Cluster

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V Part 1 – Preparing the installation

This is the first part of a series that explains how to install Windows HPC Server 2008 (HPCS) in a Hyper-V environment. It provides all steps necessary to set-up the system for being able to evaluate and test its high performance abilities and train yourself before setting up the real system.

The tutorial is based a trial version of HPCS 2008 that can be found here:

• http://www.microsoft.com/hpc/en/us/trial-software.aspx
• HPCEval.iso (486 MB)
• SRVHPC_EN.iso (2,08 GB)

You need an installation of Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition that you have updated with the latest patches and install the Hyper-V role. Take care to update the system at least with KB950050 before installing the Hyper-V role otherwise it will just run as RC version and not as RTM version.

• In the Server Manager click on “Add Roles”

• Select the Hyper-V role and install it on the Server

• If you see this message then you need to update your system at least with Patch KB950050

[Tutorial] Installing Windows HPC Server 2008 in Hyper-V
Part 1 – Preparing the installation

[HPC] High Performance Computing Server (HPCS)

Microsoft provides its own High Performance Computing solution Windows HPC Server 2008. The latest version if even more powerful and easier to use than Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. So if you need the power of parallel computing then Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 is the right choice.

Please visit the following links for more information:

http://www.microsoft.com/hpc/en/us/default.aspx (English)

http://resourcekit.windowshpc.net/ (English)

http://blogs.msdn.com/hpctrekker/default.aspx (English)

http://technet.microsoft.com/fr-fr/hpc/dd251192.aspx (French)

http://www.microsoft.com/France/Vision/mstechdays09/Parcours.aspx?Oid=785bfb91-ab36-4b55-a78a-10d5654989d9 (French)

[HPC] High Performance Computing Server (HPCS)