Deploying Windows Azure VM Nodes in Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Step-by-Step Guide

Updated: June 29, 2011

Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008 R2

In a Windows® HPC Server 2008 R2 cluster that has been updated with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later of Microsoft® HPC Pack 2008 R2, you can add Windows Azure virtual machine (VM) nodes. VM nodes are Windows Azure VM role instances that run a customized operating system image that can include your specific applications, data, and configuration settings for running jobs. Adding the VM nodes requires a VM node template that specifies a connection to an existing subscription for Windows Azure, a system image in the form of a virtual hard disk (VHD) that has been uploaded to the Windows Azure subscription, an availability policy for the nodes, and other settings. This guide provides step-by-step procedures for creating a system image and for deploying Windows Azure VM nodes in a Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 cluster.

Note
You can also deploy Windows Azure worker nodes in Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 SP1 or later. Worker nodes can run HPC jobs that do not require a customized operating system image. For more information, see Deploying Windows Azure Worker Nodes in Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Step-by-Step Guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=200494).

In this guide

This guide includes the following sections: