Checklist: Deploy an HPC Cluster (Overview)

Updated: August 2010

Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008 R2

The following checklist describes the overall process of designing and deploying a Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 cluster. Each task in the checklist is linked to the section in this document that describes the steps to perform the task.

Task	Description
Step 1: Prepare for Your Deployment	Before you start deploying your HPC cluster, review the list of prerequisites and initial considerations.
Step 2: Deploy the Head Node	Deploy the head node by installing Windows Server® 2008 R2 and Microsoft® HPC Pack 2008 R2.
Step 3: Configure the Head Node	Configure the head node by following the steps in the Deployment To-do List in HPC Cluster Manager.
Step 4: Validate Your Environment Before Deploying Nodes	If you will be deploying nodes from bare metal, run a set of diagnostic tests to identify common problems that can affect node deployment.
Step 5: Add Nodes to the Cluster	Add nodes to the cluster by deploying them from bare metal, by importing an XML file, or by manually configuring them.
Step 6: Run Diagnostic Tests on the Cluster	Run diagnostic tests to verify that the deployment of the cluster was successful.
Step 7: Run a Test Job on the Cluster	Run a basic job on the cluster to verify that the cluster is operational.