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Step 2: Create a new HPC Pack cluster

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This article describes how to create a new HPC Pack cluster by installing one or multiple HPC Pack head nodes.

Before the installation

To deploy the head node of your HPC cluster, you must install a supported edition of Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2012 R2 on the computer (or computers) that will act as the head node, and join the computer (or computers) in an Active Directory domain. For more information about the system requirements to install HPC Pack on the head node, see System Requirements for Microsoft HPC Pack 2016.

More considerations for the installation

  • Before you install the operating system, you should obtain and install the latest BIOS, firmware, and device drivers for your head node computer from the websites of your hardware vendors.
  • We strongly recommend that you perform a clean installation of Windows Server before installing HPC Pack. If you want to install HPC Pack on an existing installation of Windows Server, remove all server roles first, and then follow the procedures in this guide. For procedures to remove role services and server roles by using the Server Manager GUI or command-line tools, see Install or Uninstall Roles, Role Services, or Features. HPC Pack cannot be installed on the head node computer if the Deployment Server role service of the Deployment Services role is already installed.
  • Windows Server must be installed in one of the following languages that is supported by HPC Pack on the head node: English, Japanese, or Simplified Chinese.
  • Ensure that the Windows Firewall service is running on the head node. This is necessary so that HPC-specific firewall rules for an HPC cluster can be applied during and after installation of HPC Pack. By default in Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2012 R2, the Windows Firewall service is running.

2.1. Install the prerequisite components for the head node on the first two computers that will act as head nodes (optional)

If you want to create an HPC cluster with a single head node, skip this step. If you want to create an HPC cluster with three head nodes for high availability, you should install prerequisite components in the first two head node computers first. Then, perform a full head node installation in the third head node computer.

To install prerequisite components for the head node on the computer

  1. To start the HPC Pack Installation Wizard on the computer that will act as the head node, run Setup.exe from the HPC Pack installation media or from a network location.
  2. On the HPC Pack Setup screen, click Install the prerequisites for a new head node.

Install prerequisites for head node.

  1. In the HPC Pack Installation Wizard, on the Getting Started page, click Next.
  2. On the Microsoft Software User Agreement page, read or print the software license terms in the license agreement, and accept or reject the terms of that agreement. If you accept the terms, click Next.
  3. On the Installation Rules page, review the results of the pre-installation tests on your environment. If the Status of an item is Failed, review the information provided on the test and make any necessary configuration changes in your environment. If necessary, to run the tests again, click Rerun, or start the installation of HPC Pack again. After all the tests pass, click Next.
  4. On the Join Cluster page, input the host names of the three head nodes (separated with commas) as connection string, and click Next.
  5. On the Install Location page, specify locations for the following files and data:
    • The program files for HPC Pack on the head node.
    • Data on the head node, such as log files.
  6. On the Certificate page, specify the Certificate for the head node you prepared in in Step 1: Prepare for your deployment. You can either click Browse to select a certificate which is already installed in the computer, or click Import to import a PFX format certificate. For requirements for the certificate, see Step 1.8.
  7. Follow the remaining steps in the installation wizard to complete the installation.

2.2: Do full HPC Pack head node installation on the single head node computer or the third head node computer

After the operating system is installed on the head node computer (or computers), and the head node is joined to an Active Directory domain, install HPC Pack on the head node.

Considerations for the installation

  • To install HPC Pack in an Active Directory domain, you must be logged on with a domain user account that is a member of the Administrators group on the head node computer.
  • Certain installation options, such as configuring the HPC databases that are required for operation of the cluster on remote database servers, require that you to complete preparation steps before you install HPC Pack. For more information, see Step 1: Prepare for your deployment, earlier in this guide.
  • Before you install HPC Pack 2016, we recommend that you review the release notes and be aware of the known issues.
  • If the computer has a restart pending (for example, after updates were applied), you should restart the node before you start the installation. Otherwise, the HPC Pack installation can fail during configuration of certain server roles or features. If this occurs, you can safely cancel the installation, restart the computer, and resume the installation.

To install Microsoft HPC Pack head node on the computer

Important

The HPC Pack 2016 head node cannot be installed from an installation package stored on a network share. You must copy the installation package to a local folder before running Setup.exe.

  1. To start the HPC Pack Installation Wizard on the computer that will act as the head node, run Setup.exe from the HPC Pack installation package in a local folder.
  2. On the HPC Pack 2016 Setup screen, click New installation or add new features to an existing installation.

New installation of HPC Pack.

  1. In the HPC Pack Installation Wizard, on the Getting Started page, click Next.

  2. On the Microsoft Software User Agreement page, read or print the software license terms in the license agreement, and accept or reject the terms of that agreement. If you accept the terms, click Next.

  3. On the Select Installation Type page, click Create a new HPC cluster by creating a head node, and then click Next.

  4. On the Head Node High Availability page, select Single head node cluster or High availability cluster.

  5. On the Installation Rules page, review the results of the pre-installation tests on your environment. If the Status of an item is Failed, review the information provided on the test and make any necessary configuration changes in your environment. If necessary, to run the tests again, click Rerun, or start the installation of HPC Pack again. After all the tests pass, click Next.

  6. If you chose High availability cluster, on the Service Fabric Cluster page, specify the host names of the three head nodes (separated with commas). Specify a unique cluster name for your HPC cluster, and click Next.

  7. On the HPC DB Configuration page, select either the head node or a remote server that is running Microsoft SQL Server as the location for each of the five HPC databases. Depending on your selections, you then configure the following settings for each database:

    • The folders for each database and each database log.
    • For each database that is configured on a remote server that is running a supported version of Microsoft SQL Server, the SQL Server connection string, and other settings to access the remote database.

      Important

      If you choose to install one or more HPC databases on a remote server, the database must already be created and configured for remote access before you can configure settings during the installation of HPC Pack. For more information, see Step 1.3, earlier in this guide.

  8. On the Install Location page, specify locations for the following files and data:

    • The program files for HPC Pack on the head node.
    • Data on the head node, such as log files and the operating system images that will be deployed to on-premises nodes.

  9. On the Certificate page, specify the Certificate for the head node you prepared in Step 1: Prepare for your deployment. Click Browse to select a certificate which is already installed in the computer, or click Import to import a PFX format certificate. For a cluster with a single head node, you can click Import and choose to generate a self-signed certificate.

  10. On the Net Shares page, specify the network shares used by the HPC Pack cluster. You can select Create all network shares on this computer, or select Specify network shares separately and specify the network shares.

  11. Follow the remaining steps in the installation wizard to complete the installation of HPC Pack.

Note

In case if a head node of the Service Fabric cluster goes down, follow the following steps to replace the bad node:

  1. Make sure the new head node joins the same Active Directory domain as the old one and has the same name as the old, bad node.
  2. Make sure the new head node has installed the required certificates.
  3. Find ServiceFabric\MicrosoftAzureServiceFabric.cab in the HPC Pack setup, unzip it to obtain MicrosoftAzureServiceFabric\bin\Fabric\Fabric.Code\InstallFabric.ps1, then copy the .ps1 and the .cab onto the new head node.
  4. Copy C:\ProgramData\SF\clusterManifest.xml from an existing head node to the new one.
  5. Install head node prerequisites on the new head node.
  6. Start Powershell as Administrator on the new head node, then run .\InstallFabric.ps1 -FabricRuntimePackagePath "MicrosoftAzureServiceFabric.cab".
  7. Restart the new head node.
  8. Start Powershell as Administrator on the new head node, then run New-ServiceFabricNodeConfiguration -ClusterManifestPath clusterManifest.xml.
  9. Start FabricHostSvc service.

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