Learn more about MATLAB Distributed Computing Server

Customizing Server Services

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Defining the Script Defaults Overriding the Script Defaults

The MATLAB Distributed Computing Server scripts run using several default parameters. You can customize the scripts, as described in this section.

Defining the Script Defaults

The scripts for the server services require values for several parameters. These parameters set the process name, the user name, log file location, ports, etc. Some of these can be set using flags on the command lines, but the full set of user-configurable parameters are in the mdce_def file.

Note   The startup script flags take precedence over the settings in the mdce_def file.

The default parameters used by the server service scripts are defined in the file:

• matlabroot\toolbox\distcomp\bin\mdce_def.bat (on Microsoft Windows operating systems)

• matlabroot/toolbox/distcomp/bin/mdce_def.sh (on UNIX or Macintosh operating systems)

To set the default parameters, edit this file before installing or starting the mdce service.

The mdce_def file is self-documented, and includes explanations of all its parameters.

Note   If you want to run more than one job manager on the same machine, they must all have unique names. Specify the names using flags with the startup commands.

Setting the User

By default, the job manager and worker services run as the user who starts them. You can run the services as a different user with the following settings in the mdce_def file.

Parameter	Description
MDCEUSER	Set this parameter to run the mdce services as a user different from the user who starts the service. On a UNIX operating system, set the value before starting the service; on a Windows operating system, set it before installing the service.
MDCEPASS	On a Windows operating system, set this parameter to specify the password for the user identified in the MDCEUSER parameter; otherwise, the system prompts you for the password when the service is installed.

On UNIX operating systems, MDCEUSER requires that the current machine has the sudo utility installed, and that the current user be allowed to use sudo to execute commands as the user identified by MDCEUSER. For further information, refer to your system documentation on the sudo and sudoers utilities (for example, man sudo and man sudoers).

On Windows operating systems, when executing the mdce start script, the user defined by MDCEUSER must be listed among those who can log on as a service. To see the list of valid users, select the Windows menu Start > Settings > Control Panel. Double-click Administrative Tools, then Local Security Policy. In the tree, select User Rights Assignment, then in the right pane, double-click Log on as a service. This dialog box must list the user defined for MDCEUSER in your mdce_def.bat file. If not, you can add the user to this dialog box according to the instructions in the mdce_def.bat file, or when running mdce start, you can use another mdce_def.bat file that specifies a listed user.

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Overriding the Script Defaults

Specifying an Alternative Defaults File

The default parameters used by the mdce service, job managers, and workers are defined in the file:

• matlabroot\toolbox\distcomp\bin\mdce_def.bat (on Windows operating systems)

• matlabroot/toolbox/distcomp/bin/mdce_def.sh (on UNIX or Macintosh operating systems)

Before installing and starting the mdce service, you can edit this file to set the default parameters with values you require.

Alternatively, you can make a copy of this file, modify the copy, and specify that this copy be used for the default parameters.

On UNIX or Macintosh operating systems, enter the command

mdce start -mdcedef my_mdce_def.sh

On Windows operating systems, enter the command

mdce install -mdcedef my_mdce_def.bat
mdce start -mdcedef my_mdce_def.bat

If you specify a new mdce_def file instead of the default file for the service on one computer, the new file is not automatically used by the mdce service on other computers. If you want to use the same alternative file for all your mdce services, you must specify it for each mdce service you install or start.

For more information, see Defining the Script Defaults.

Note   The startup script flags take precedence over the settings in the mdce_def file.

Starting in a Clean State

When a job manager or worker starts up, it normally resumes its session from the past. This way, a job queue is not destroyed or lost if the job manager machine crashes or if the job manager is inadvertently shut down. To start up a job manager or worker from a clean state, with all history deleted, use the -clean flag on the start command:

startjobmanager -clean -name MyJobManager
startworker -clean -jobmanager MyJobManager

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Shutting Down a Job Manager Configuration

Accessing Service Record Files

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