Create a Compute Node Template that Limits Local Administrative Access

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Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008

When you create a new compute node template in Windows HPC Server 2008 for compute nodes that you will be adding to your cluster from bare metal, you can specify a setting that limits local administrative access to compute nodes. This setting causes Windows HPC Server 2008 to generate a password for the built-in local Administrator account on the compute node. No one can see this password, so it becomes nearly impossible to log on using that account. The result is that any local administrative access occurs only through an account that you create and place in the local Administrators group on each compute node.

If you have an existing compute node template that does not use this setting, you cannot edit the template to add the setting. You must create a new node template and specify the setting in that template.

To specify a compute node template setting that limits local administrative access

  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 the To-do List, click Create a node template. The Create Node Template Wizard appears.

  3. For compute nodes that you will be adding to your cluster from bare metal, follow the steps in the wizard to specify a template name, select the appropriate deployment type (With operating system), add an operating system image, and specify the optional multicast and optional product key information. For more information, see Step 3: Configure the Head Node (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151467) in the Windows HPC Server 2008 Deployment Guide.

  4. On the Specify Local Administrator Password for Compute Node page, click Generate the password automatically.

  5. Complete the wizard.

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