Add a Server Cluster

Establish a connection to an HPC cluster so that you may begin submitting jobs.

A server cluster is a PAS Server that is connected to an HPC complex. Before you can submit a job, a server cluster must be added. Only users that have been assigned a Manager role can add a server cluster. The Service User entered during the installation of Access Web is automatically assigned a Manager role.

When Access Web is installed on the same machine as PAS, a default local server is automatically added, eliminating the need for the Service User to add a server. Users can begin submitting jobs immediately. Access to the local filesystem is also configured through the default server. By default, users have access to the Job File Stage Area directory (default is /stage) that is defined at installation. Edit the default server to configure access to additional directories such as user home directories, for example /home.

Configure the default home location of users when you register a PAS server. Environment variables can be used to define the user's default home location like $HOME representing the PAS home directory and $USER_HOME or %U representing username. Access Web will display the contents of the user’s home directory path when the user logs into Access Web.

The following are examples for setting the user's home directory:

In Linux : /stage, /home, /stage/$USER, /home/$USER/project

In Windows: C:/stage, C:/Users, C:/%HOMEPATH%, C:/%HOMEPATH%/project
Note: The user’s credentials should be available in the PAS server when you define the home location path with the user ($USER_HOME or %U).

An Autocreate Directory option is provided while adding a server cluster and it is set to true. This will create the root directory specified if it is not available in PAS.

  1. Choose one of the following options:
    • If no servers have been configured, click the Configure one or more servers link.
    • Click and then click Add.
    The Add Server Cluster screen is displayed.


    Figure 1. Add Server Cluster
  2. For Server Name, enter a short name describing the cluster.
  3. For URL, enter the URL for connecting to the Workload Manager.
    The URL is in the format https://<hostname>:5243/pas where <hostname> is the hostname of the machine where the PAS Server is installed.
    Note: It is recommended to add a server cluster using the hostname of the PAS Server rather than the IP address. This prevents connectivity issues from arising when an IP address is changed (DHCP, etc.).
  4. For User Name and Password, enter your login credentials.
    The user account and password must be available on the PAS Server.
  5. For Root Dir, enter the pathname where user job input and result files are stored.
    Ex: /home, /users, /stage, /stage/$USER, /home/$USER/project, C:/stage, C:/Users, C:/%HOMEPATH%, C:/%HOMEPATH%/project
    Note: Add parent directory of all Users home during server registration to make home button work.
  6. Click if you want to add another Root Dir and enter the pathname.


    Figure 2. Multiple Root Directory Entry
  7. Select the default root directory to be displayed from the Default Root Dir drop-down menu.


    Figure 3. Default Root Directory
  8. Optional: Click Autocreate Directory checkbox if you do not want the root directory to be created.
    Tip: By default, auto create directory option is set to true to create the root directory specified if it is not available in PAS.
  9. Click Save.
    If the server cluster is added successfully, then a notification is displayed.
    Note: A notification is displayed to all users logged into Access Web when a server cluster gets added, edited, deleted, if it goes down or if it is unreachable.
    A list of server clusters that have been added is displayed.


    Figure 4. Server Clusters List

    The green color next to the server cluster indicates that it is available to use. The red color indicates that the server is not available.

    The Details column provides the reason when a server cluster is not available. Mouse hover the Details column of a server cluster to view the error message.



    Figure 5. Server Cluster Details
  10. Click Add and repeat steps 2 through 9 to add additional server clusters.