Creating and Submitting Jobs
Applies To: Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003
Creating a job is the first step in cluster computing. A job is a resource request containing one or more computing tasks to be run in parallel. (Note, however, that a job can be submitted without tasks. In this case, the job simply reserves resources for the prescribed run time, during which time the user can add the tasks as needed.)
You can create a job using the Job Manager or the Command Line Interface (CLI). At the minimum, this consists of simply entering a command line in a pop-up window, or entering it at the command prompt preceded by job submit. In most cases, the job and its tasks require a greater degree of configuration. This means creating the job explicitly, setting its properties, then adding the tasks explicitly and setting their properties. Job properties include such options as priority class, run time limit, number of processors required, specific nodes requested, and whether nodes will be reserved exclusively for the job. Task properties are similar to job properties (in some cases, actual subsets of them) and also include any input, output, and error files associated with the task and a list of any other tasks on which the task depends.
When you have fully defined your job and its tasks, the next step is to submit it to the Job Scheduler. After the job is submitted, it takes its place in the job queue with the status Queued and waits its turn to be activated. For more information about job status, see Job, Task, and Node Status.