ANSYS v14.5
R
Remote
t Solve
S l
Manager
Installation Guide
© 2013 CAE Associates
What is the Remote Solve Manager?

The Remote Solve Manager (RSM) is a
job queuing system designed specifically
for use with the ANSYS suite of solvers

RSM enables jobs to be offloaded from
your local machine and distributed to
remote compute servers
—
—

Integrated solution, no batch scripts
required!
Setup many design points and distribute
them to multiple compute servers to run in
parallel
The RSM architecture allows users to
disconnect from a remotely running job
and reconnect to download at a later time
2
Typical RSM Workflow

There are 3 main roles in the RSM hierarchy:
—
—
—

RSM Client – machine from which jobs are offloaded
Solve Manager – hub that receives jobs from RSM clients and dispatches them
to the available compute servers
Compute Server – machines on which the jobs are actually run
A given machine can play any combination of the 3 roles
roles.
—
A typical RSM implementation is shown below
Compute Servers
RSM Clients
Solver Manager
3
Configuring RSM

At version 14.5, configuring RSM is simple!
—
Just follow the RSM Setup Wizard found in:
• Start > All Programs > ANSYS 14.5 > Remote Solve Manager > RSM Setup
Wizard 14.5
• IMPORTANT:
IMPORTANT O
On Wi
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Run as Ad
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—
Prompts differ depending on the role of the machine in the RSM hierarchy,
however the first few steps are always the same
• Configure the Compute Servers first
first, followed by the Solve Managers
Managers, and finally
the RSM Clients
4
Configuring RSM


To connect to an existing cluster that is managed by Windows HPC
HPC, LSF
LSF,
or PBS select the first option.
Otherwise, select the second option. This is the default option and is the
more common selection.
selection
5
Configuring RSM

ANSYS Workbench and RSM must be installed on all machines in the
RSM layout. Ensure that this is the case and confirm by selecting the
check boxes
—

RSM is automatically installed along with Workbench
Next, we’ll detail the configuration procedure for each role in the RSM
layout.
6
Configuring RSM
on the
th C
Compute
t
Servers
© 2013 CAE Associates
Configuring RSM – Compute Servers


A Compute Server is a machine on which the jobs are actually run
To Configure RSM on the Solve Manager, select the appropriate check
boxes and complete the prompts as described in the following slides
8
Configuring RSM – Compute Servers

The RSM Services must simply be started on the Compute Server
Server.
—

If the services are not yet running, click the “Start Services” button and wait for
the message window to indicate that the service configuration is complete
Once the RSM services are started on the Compute Servers they are fully
configured and we can move on to configuring the Solve Manager
9
Configuring RSM
on the
th S
Solve
l
Manager
© 2013 CAE Associates
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager


The Solve Manager is the hub that receives jobs from RSM clients and
dispatches them to the available compute servers
To Configure RSM on the Solve Manager, select the appropriate check
boxes and complete the prompts as described in the following slides
11
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

The RSM Setup Wizard will prompt you to confirm that RSM Services
have been started on all Compute Servers. Ensure that this is correct
before moving forward.
12
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

The RSM Services must be started on the Solve Manager
Manager.
—
If the services are not yet running, click the “Start Services” button and wait for
the message window to indicate that the service configuration is complete
13
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

The RSM Setup Wizard will allow you to modify the settings for the Solve
Manager being configured. These include:
—
—
—

Job Cleanup Period
Project Directory
Compression Threshold
To keep the defaults, select the No radio button
—
These settings can always be modified at a later time
14
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

To add Compute Servers to which the Solve Manager can submit jobs
jobs,
select the “Yes” radio button and then select “Define a new Compute
Server”
15
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Enter the Machine Name or IP Address of the Compute Server along with
a name used to identify the Compute Server in RSM
—
The following prompts will then ask you to specify the details of the Compute
Server
16
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

The next two screens prompt the installer whether the Compute Server is:
—
—
Part of a Cluster – select Yes only if the compute server is managed by
Windows HPC, LSF, or PBS
A Linux machine requiring SSH
17
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

The following screen prompts the user to specify a working directory for
the Compute Server
—
If the Compute Server has one hard drive that is faster than the others, specify
its local path (i.e. F:\RSM)
18
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

The following screen prompts the user to specify the maximum number of
jobs that can run at one time on the Compute Server
—
—
This is useful for workstations that have multiple cores
Allows for simultaneous job submission to a single Compute Server
19
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Finally the wizard will prompt you to select some job options
Finally,
—
The defaults are acceptable for most users
20
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Confirm the Compute Server settings are correct and then choose wether
or not to add additional Compute Servers (repeat from slide 15)
21
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Once the Compute Server details are completed
completed, we need to set up the
Queue that will manage them
—
The Queue manages the distribution of jobs among the Compute Servers and
the availability of resources
22
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Define a new Queue to Manage the Compute Servers you have previously
configured
23
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Specify a name for the Queue and select the Compute Servers that will be
assigned to the queue
—
localhost refers to the local machine. Enable this choice if you want the Solve
Manager to also act as a Compute Server
24
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

By default,
default RSM will use the current Username and Password to log in to
the Compute Servers when submitting jobs. If this username is able to log
in to each Compute Server then no further action is required. Otherwise an
alternate account must be set up
25
Configuring RSM – Solve Manager

Finally, now that the Compute Servers and Queues are set up
Finally
up, use the
RSM Wizard to Test the configuration
—
Easier to debug the configuration now rather than when users start submitting
analyses!
26
Configuring RSM
on the
th RSM Cli
Clients
t
© 2013 CAE Associates
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients


An RSM Client is a machine from which jobs are offloaded (i
(i.e.
e your
desktop)
To Configure RSM on the RSM Clients, select the appropriate check
boxes and complete the prompts as described in the following slides
28
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients

The RSM Setup Wizard will prompt you to confirm that RSM Services
have been started on all Compute Servers and Solve Managers. Ensure
that this is correct before moving forward.
29
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients

Select Define a new Solve Manager and then specify the Machine Name
for the Solve Manager that you have previously configured
30
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients

If the user account used to set up the RSM Client does not have
administrative privileges on the Solve Manager, the following notice will
appear. We will need to set the account settings locally.
—
Note: An alternate account may need be configured.
configured RSM will then use the
alternate account to log in to the Solve Manager
31
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients

Select the Username that you are currently logged in under so that we can
configure its settings. The first step is to enter the Password associated
with the username.
—
If this account can log on to all Compute Servers
Servers, then no further action is
required. Otherwise, an alternate account must be configured by selecting the
“No” radio button
32
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients

In the event that your Username and Password cannot log into all
Compute Servers, an alternate account must be configured
—
Specify the account details and which Compute Servers the Alternate Account
will be used to log in to.
33
Configuring RSM – RSM Clients

Finally, test the Compute Servers in the selected Queue to ensure proper
Finally
configuration
34
Summary

Configure the Compute Servers first
first, followed by the Solve Managers
Managers, and
finally the RSM Clients

Once RSM is config
configured,
red it sho
should
ld look similar to the e
example
ample belo
below.
—
Queues and associated Compute Servers listed under configured Solve
Managers
35