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Step 5: Add Nodes to the Cluster

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Updated: August 2010

Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008 R2

Windows® HPC Server 2008 R2 simplifies the process of deploying nodes by providing automatic node imaging, automatic naming of nodes, and other capabilities to streamline deployment tasks. Also, it provides tools to monitor the progress of your deployment.

Important
  • The default in Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 is to respond only to Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) requests that come from existing 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 at any time.

  • Before you add nodes to your cluster, verify that the physical network topology of your cluster matches the topology specified on your head node.

  • All nodes should have the latest BIOS and firmware installed prior to the installation of any operating system.

You can use the Add Node Wizard to add nodes to your HPC cluster. There are three ways to add on-premises nodes to your cluster:

  • Deploy compute nodes or broker nodes from bare metal

  • Add nodes by importing a node XML file

  • Add preconfigured nodes

For more information and step-by-step procedures for each of these three options for adding nodes, see the Design and Deployment Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=194689).

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

To add nodes to your cluster

  1. In the Deployment To-do List, under Optional deployment tasks, click Add nodes to your cluster.

  2. Follow the steps in the Add Node Wizard.

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