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Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 Deployment

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Applies To: Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003

A major goal in the design of Microsoft® Windows® Compute Cluster Server 2003 software was to simplify the deployment and management of high performance clusters that can be used at the personal and workgroup level. Deployment is integrated with Active Directory® and Windows Server™ 2003, which enables simple deployment of compute nodes and central management using Microsoft Management Console (MMC). The computers in a Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 cluster are industry standard, without unusual hardware and software requirements. A cluster can be deployed on a variety of network topologies to suit your needs.

Deploying a compute cluster

Deploying a Windows compute cluster begins with setting up a cluster head node. After installing and configuring the operating system, you run Compute Cluster Pack (CCP) Setup and select the head node option. After installing CCP, you configure the head node, and then add the compute nodes. Finally, you give users permissions to submit jobs to the Job Scheduler on the head node by adding them as cluster users.

To deploy a Windows compute cluster

  1. Determine whether the computers you intend to configure as cluster nodes meet the hardware and software requirements.

  2. Ensure that you are installing the cluster on a supported network topology that meets the needs of your users and developers.

  3. Configure a server as a head node. This involves a number of steps:

    1. Connect the server to a supported network topology.

    2. Install Windows Server 2003, Compute Cluster Edition (or a supported operating system) on the head node. If you intend to use the Automated Addition method of creating and adding compute nodes to your cluster, you must create a second disk volume to contain installation images.

    3. Add the head node to an existing Active Directory domain (recommended), or make the head node a domain controller for the cluster.

    4. Install the Compute Cluster Pack on the head node.

    5. Configure the network interfaces of the head node.

    6. Enable or disable Windows Firewall.

    7. If applicable, install Remote Installation Services (RIS) on the head node.

    8. If RIS is installed, add one or more RIS installation images on a second volume on the head node, then modify the images with valid license keys and descriptions.

  4. Add one or more compute nodes to your cluster, either manually adding servers or using the Automated Addition method to install and configure nodes using a RIS installation image.

  5. Add cluster administrators and users to the compute cluster.

All these steps are listed with links to the appropriate documentation in Checklist: Deploying Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003.

See Also

Concepts

Using the Compute Cluster Administrator
Compute Cluster Server Setup Command-Line Interface Reference
Compute Cluster Server Glossary