Create the Base Node and the Base Node Image
Applies To: Microsoft HPC Pack 2008 R2, Microsoft HPC Pack 2012, Microsoft HPC Pack 2012 R2
After you have configured the head node for iSCSI deployment, you need to add to your HPC cluster the nodes that you want to deploy over iSCSI, and then you need to deploy one of those nodes so that it can become the base node. When you have a base node, you can modify it before an image is created from it. For example, you can install available updates, install a program that you want to run on all the iSCSI boot nodes, or you can add specific device drivers that are required by the iSCSI boot node computers.
Note
For detailed information about iSCSI deployment and step-by-step procedures for deploying iSCSI boot nodes, see the Deploying iSCSI Boot Nodes Step-by-Step Guide.
This topic explains how to deploy the base node by using the Deploy Base Node Wizard, and how to modify the base node by connecting to it remotely from the head node. It then explains how to capture an image of the base node, and finally how create a template that uses the base node image to deploy other iSCSI boot nodes.
Warning
An operating system image is deployed to the computer that you use as the base node, and all data on that computer might be lost. Before you create the base node on that computer, you should backup any valued data that is stored on it.
Important
-
Before following this procedure, ensure that the computer that you want to deploy as the base node is turned on.
-
Before the image of the base node is captured, the operating system on the base node is generalized by using the System Preparation Tool that is available in Windows Server (Sysprep). After the image is captured, the node is moved to the Unapproved state, and it is shut down. You will need to deploy the node again.
-
If you want to configure the base node by installing a program before you create an image from it, contact the software company that created the program to determine if the generalization process will affect the original installation of the program.
To create the base node and the base node image
In HPC Cluster Manager, in Configuration, in the Navigation pane, click iSCSI Deployment.
To deploy the base node:
In the Required iSCSI Deployment Tasks list, under Base node image creation, click Deploy the base node. The Deploy Base Node Wizard appears.
Follow the steps in the Deploy Base Node Wizard
Important
-
The node template that you create with the Deploy Base Node Wizard can only be used to deploy the base node for iSCSI deployment.
-
A product key might be required for the operating system image in the node template, depending on the version of the operating system that was used to create the image. For more information, see Understanding Product Keys in Node Templates.
Note
For information about the options on the iSCSI Boot Configuration page and the iSCSI Qualified Name Configuration page in the wizard, see Additional considerations in this topic.
After the base node is deployed, to modify it:
In Node Management, in the Navigation pane, under Nodes, in the list of nodes for the cluster, right-click the base node, and then click Remote Desktop.
Type a user name and a password for an account that has administrative credentials on the base node, and then click OK.
To connect to the base node, on the list of current nodes, click the base node.
Perform any necessary changes and customization to the base node, and then log off the node.
When the base node is ready, to create a base node image:
In the Required iSCSI Deployment Tasks list, under Base node image creation, click Create a base node image. The Create Base Node Image dialog box appears.
Click Select Node. The Select Node dialog box appears, and only nodes that are already deployed on an iSCSI storage array are listed on it.
Select the base node from the list of nodes, and then click OK.
Type a name for the base node image.
Optionally, select the Replicate this image across all iSCSI storage arrays check box. This option copies the image, after it is created, to all the iSCSI storage arrays that you added to the head node.
Important
The process of capturing the image of an existing node can take several minutes, especially if you select to replicate the image to all iSCSI storage arrays. During this period, HPC Cluster Manager will not be available to perform other actions.
To create the base node image, click Create Image.
After the base node image is created, to create a node template for iSCSI boot nodes:
In the Required iSCSI Deployment Tasks list, under Base node image creation, click Create a node template for iSCSI boot nodes. The Create Node Template Wizard appears.
Follow the steps in the Create Node Template Wizard.
Note
For information about the options on the iSCSI Boot Configuration page and the iSCSI Qualified Name Configuration page in the wizard, see Additional considerations in this topic.
Additional considerations
On the iSCSI Boot Configuration page, use the following procedure if you select to provide a network boot program (NBP):
Copy the NBP file to the %CCP_DATA%\Boot folder, for example: c:\Program Files\Microsoft HPC Pack\Data\Boot.
In the NBP File Path box, type the name of the NBP file that you copied.
In the NBP DHCP Client Class box, type the DHCP client class for the NBP. For example, if your NBP is for gPXE, type the name of the gPXE file, and type gPXE as the class.
On the iSCSI Qualified Name Configuration page, select how to assign the iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) to each iSCSI boot node:
If you are providing an NBP, you must select to use DHCP to assign the IQN dynamically. For example, if you are using gPXE, use DHCP option ID 203 (the default value).
If you are using a network adapter that can boot from iSCSI, you must determine what DHCP option is required by the network adapter by reviewing the documentation for the network adapter, or by contacting your hardware vendor.
If you want to use a template string to assign each IQN, specify it by using one of the available substitution strings: %HOSTNAME%, %MAC-NO-DELIMITERS%, %MAC-COLON-DELIMITED%, %MAC-DASH-DELIMITED%, and %MAC-DOT-DELIMITED%. For example, the following IQN template string will generate a different IQN for each iSCSI boot node based on the MAC address of the network adapter that each node uses to boot from iSCSI: iqn.1991-05.com.microsoft.%MAC-COLON-DELIMITED%.iscsiboot.
For information about using HPC Cluster Manager, see Overview of HPC Cluster Manager.