Troubleshoot Access to an HPC Cluster When Logon Rights Have Been Restricted

Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008

When an HPC cluster user runs a job, the HPC Job Scheduler Service logs on to one or more compute nodes with the user's account. The user's account must therefore have the right to log on locally to the compute nodes on which the job runs. Use this procedure to confirm that HPC cluster users have the necessary right. By default, members of the local Users group have the right to log on locally, but an administrator can use Group Policy to deny the right. Note that in Group Policy, an explicitly denied right overrides an allowed right.

To troubleshoot access to an HPC cluster when logon rights have been restricted

1. To open HPC Cluster Manager, click Start, point to All Programs, click Microsoft HPC Pack, and then click HPC Cluster Manager. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

2. In Configuration, in the Navigation Pane, click To-do List.

3. In the To-do List, click Add or remove users.

4. Review the users and groups that are listed (either as Users or Administrators). Confirm that the list encompasses all those who should be permitted to run jobs on your cluster.

5. Record the users and groups that are listed (either as Users or Administrators), and either look up the user rights of those users and groups, or ask your domain administrator to look them up for you. Confirm that all of the users and groups have the right to log on locally to the compute nodes.

   For links to information about configuring Group Policy, see "Additional references." In Group Policy, the location of user rights is under Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment. Be sure to review whether any of the users or groups have been explicitly denied the right to log on locally, because this overrides any setting that would allow the right.

Additional references

• Work with Group Policy Objects (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157150)

• Windows Server Group Policy Home Page (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157151)

• Appendix B: Resources for Learning About Group Policy for Windows Server 2008 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157152)

• Security Considerations for Designating HPC Cluster Users and Administrators

• Security Considerations for Handling Cluster Credentials in Windows HPC Server 2008