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Step 4: Add Compute Nodes to the Cluster

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Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008

Windows HPC Server 2008 simplifies the deploying process of compute nodes by providing automatic node imaging, automatic naming of nodes, and other capabilities to streamline deployment tasks. Also, it provides tools that you can use to monitor the progress of your deployment.

Important

Unlike previous versions of Windows HPC Server 2008, the default in Windows HPC Server 2008 is to respond only to Pre-Boot Execution (PXE) requests that come from existing compute nodes. This default setting is automatically changed when you use the Add Node Wizard to add nodes from bare metal. Also, you can manually change this setting in the Options menu, under Deployment Settings.

After creating a node template, you can use the Add Node Wizard to add compute nodes to your HPC cluster. There are three ways by which you can add compute nodes to your cluster:

  • Deploy compute nodes from bare metal

  • Add compute nodes by importing a node XML file

  • Add preconfigured compute nodes

For more information about each of these three node deployment options, see the Windows HPC Server 2008 Design and Deployment Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=117921).

Important

Ensure that nothing can restart or shut down the head node during the deployment process of compute nodes, or the deployment might fail. For example, temporarily disable automatic updates on the head node.

To add compute nodes to your cluster

  1. In the To-do List, click Add compute nodes.

  2. Follow the steps in the Add Node Wizard.

Note

Step-by-step procedures for adding compute nodes to your cluster are available in the HPC Cluster Manager Help documentation. To see these procedures, on the Select Deployment Method page of the Add Node Wizard, click Adding Nodes to a Cluster.