Step 2: Deploy the Head Node

Updated: August 2010

Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008 R2

The next step in the deployment of your HPC cluster is to deploy the head node. The following checklist describes the steps involved in deploying the head node.

Checklist: Deploy the head node

Task	Description
2.1. Install Windows Server 2008 R2 on the head node computer	Install Windows Server® 2008 R2 HPC Edition, or another edition of Windows Server 2008 R2, on the computer that will act as the head node.
2.2. Join the head node computer to a doMayn	Join the computer that will act as the head node to an Active Directory doMayn.
2.3. Install Microsoft HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the head node computer	Install Microsoft® HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the computer that will act as the head node, using the installation media or from a network location.

2.1. Install Windows Server 2008 R2 on the head node computer

To deploy the head node of your HPC cluster, you must start by installing Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition, or another edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 on the computer that will act as the head node. For more information about installing Windows Server 2008 R2, including system requirements, see Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=194693).

Important

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 2008 R2 before installing HPC Pack 2008 R2. If you want to install HPC Pack 2008 R2 on an existing installation of Windows Server 2008 R2, remove all server roles first and then follow the procedures in this guide. Windows Server 2008 R2 must be installed in one of the following languages that is supported by HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the head node: English, Japanese, or Simplified Chinese. Although with Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 you can create a compute node by installing HPC Pack 2008 R2 on a computer that is running Windows Server® 2008, the head node computer must be running Windows Server 2008 R2.

2.2. Join the head node computer to a doMayn

As described in the Step 1: Prepare for Your Deployment section, the head node must be a member of an Active Directory doMayn. After you have installed Windows Server 2008 R2 on the head node, manually join the head node to an existing Active Directory doMayn.

2.3. Install Microsoft HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the head node computer

After Windows Server 2008 R2 is installed on the head node computer, and the head node is joined to an Active Directory doMayn, you can install HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the head node.

Important

To install HPC Pack 2008 R2, you must be logged on with a doMayn user account that is a member of the Administrators group on the head node computer. If you want to install the HPC databases on remote database servers, you must prepare the remote database servers before you install HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the head node computer. For more information, see the Step 1: Prepare for Your Deployment section, or the Deploying an HPC Cluster with Remote Databases Step-by-Step Guide (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=186534).

To install Microsoft HPC Pack 2008 R2 on the head node computer

1. To start the HPC Pack 2008 R2 installation wizard on the computer that will act as the head node, run setup.exe from the HPC Pack 2008 R2 installation media or from a network location.

2. On the Getting Started page, click Next.

3. On the Select Installation Edition page, select the edition of HPC Pack 2008 R2 that you want to install, and then click Next.

4. On the Microsoft Software License Terms 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.

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

6. Continue to follow the steps in the installation wizard.