Nastran Application in Windows HPC 2008

All replies

• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Dear Srikanth,
  
    Although I have not used Nastran before, I have used similar software applications and I have a couple of questions / suggestions in response to your posting.
  
    Firstly it looks like it doesn't like the "\\" type references to directories as is shown in
  
  "*** SYSTEM INFORMATION MESSAGE (pgm: nastran, fn: estimate_job_requirements)

      Starting ESTIMATE, please wait...

  '\\hpcknd1\Wrk_fluent\NASTRAN'

  CMD.EXE was started with the above path as the current directory.

  UNC paths are not supported.  Defaulting to Windows directory.

  '\\hpcknd1\Wrk_fluent\NASTRAN'

  CMD does not support UNC paths as current directories."
  
  Although the Estimation did complete, there could be residual references that do not work.
  
    Secondly, have you been able to try a similar model that is smaller?  Or a Nastran test case (that might come with the installation)?
  
  Regards,
  Mark
  
  --
  Mark Staveley
  SDET II
  US - High Performance Computing 

  Wednesday, December 30, 2009 7:38 PM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Hi Mark,

  
  

  Thank you for your reply. 

  
  

   I have tried all the options including changing to a smaller model but the result is same. 

  
  

  For the same model if I submit through command line, it's perfectly giving the results.

  
  

  Regards

  Srikanth

  Thursday, December 31, 2009 2:46 AM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Dear Srikanth,
  
    When you say "if I submit through the command line, it's perfectly giving the results" it isn't clear if you are doing the following
  
  1) running a command so that Nastran only runs on the head node
  2) running a command that distributes the job to the compute nodes
  3) using a command line interface with the scheduler (as opposed to the GUI)
  4) or some other mechanism.
  
    If you could please clarify how you are running the model through the command line, then that would be appreciated.
  
  Thanks,
  Mark
  

  Thursday, December 31, 2009 4:02 PM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Dear Mark,

  
  

  I Mean running the nastran command which runs only on the head node. The nastran only runs on the master node and delivers the result iin a local working directory.

  
  

  I have given the command c:\MSC.Software\MSC_Nastran\bin\nastran.exe maxi_truck_lx_frt_bumpstop_brkt_strength_analysis.dat DMP=2

  
  

  
  

  The above command works fine in the command prompt. Let me know any more details are required for further diagnostics.

  
  

  Thanks

  
  

  Srkanth

  Friday, January 1, 2010 5:46 AM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Hi Srkanth,
  
    Thank you for the clarification.  From the command you are using, Nastran is only being run on the head node.
  
    Could you please confirm for me the following
  
    1) that Nastran is installed on the Compute Nodes
    2) that the MPI ping-pong diagnostics do work for your Compute Nodes
  
    It looks like a lot of your paths in your initial XML are referencing the Head Node (or Master Node) - are permissions set correctly for those remote share directories?
  
    Perhaps instead of using a "\\" type reference you should also map the network share to a drive letter and reference it that way (as you are getting the error CMD does not support UNC paths as current directories.) and it would appear that a mapped drive works in your command line example above.
  
  Thanks,
  Mark
  
  

  Monday, January 4, 2010 6:47 PM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Dear Kflim,
  
    As for Nastran - my own experience and information is limited with respect to Nastran... I tended to do CFD work with different software packages (some commercial and some custom written).  I have asked other members of my team for more information about Nastran, and will post when that is forthcoming.
  
    In terms of your Cray CX1 however, it is unclear as if you mean Windows HPC Server (as WHS) or Windows Home Server - I hope you mean Windows HPC Server.  Any additional information about what is happening with your system would be helpful.  Are you able to run any diagnostics or MPI ping-pong type tests?
  
    With respect to your request for documentation, there are lots of items available.
  
    http://www.microsoft.com/hpc/en/us/developer-resources.aspx - is a listing of developer resources for people using Windows HPC Server - including tutorials and guides
  
    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc700329(WS.10).aspx - is a listing of whitepapers relating to Windows HPC Server in various ways.
  
  I hope this helps.
  
  I will try to get more Nastran information.  Are you able to run Nastran on your head node in a stand alone mode?
  
  Thanks,
  Mark
  

  Monday, January 18, 2010 7:57 PM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Dear Kflim and Srkanth
  
  Setting up Nastran to run on a cluster is described here: 

  http://simcompanion.mscsoftware.com/infocenter/index?page=content&id=DOC9175&cat=MSC__MD_NASTRAN_DOCUMENTATION&actp=LIST
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Mark
  

  • Proposed as answer by Mark Staveley Friday, July 30, 2010 8:52 PM
  • Marked as answer by Don Pattee Monday, August 2, 2010 6:01 PM

  Tuesday, January 19, 2010 1:32 AM
• 

  

  0

  Sign in to vote

  Dear Mark,

  I have installed Microsoft HPC 2008 on two computers and I have made the one the head node and the other the computer node. The head node can see the computer node. I have installed Nastran 7.0 on the head node but I am not getting any success to run any simulation.

  Do I need to install Nastran onto the computer nodes as well?

  What is the command line I need to use to schedule a task in HPC for Nastran?

  Please any sort of assistance will be appriciated.

  Best Regards,

  Gary

  Monday, September 20, 2010 5:51 AM