Preparing the Windows LSF server host to run remote applications

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Configure the win_app_runner application and Windows Desktop Connection for the Windows LSF server host to run remote applications.

Before you begin

Prerequisites:
  • Ensure the Windows host from which you want to launch applications from is part of the LSF cluster and an LSF server host. Install a mixed Windows and Linux cluster to achieve this.
  • Ensure the application you want to launch from within IBM Spectrum LSF Application Center is installed on the LSF server host.
  • Get the VNC Server package to install on your Windows LSF host. Supported VNC Server: RealVNC.
  • User accounts:
    • Ensure all user accounts for users who are going to be using IBM Spectrum LSF Application Center are local user accounts, not domain accounts. For example, this user account works for remote applications: .\user1, but this user account does not: .\domainA\user1. This is because IBM Spectrum LSF Application Center does not currently support Windows domain accounts.
    • Ensure all user passwords are no longer than 13 characters. This is required for everything to work properly.

Procedure

  1. Log on to the IBM Spectrum LSF Application Center server host as root, and copy the following file to a shared location accessible by the Windows LSF server host: $GUI_CONFDIR/conf/application/win_app_runner.xml.
    For example:
    cp $GUI_CONFDIR/conf/application/win_app_runner.xml /share
  2. Log on to your Windows LSF server host and copy the file win_app_runner.xml to your Windows host.
  3. Edit the file win_app_runner.xml and check that the LSF version is correct.
    For example, if your LSF version is 10.1:
    
<Actions Context="Author">  
    <Exec> 
       <Command>C:\LSF_10.1\tmp\script\win_app_runner.bat</Command>  
   </Exec>
</Actions>
    Note: The winapp_runner.bat file does not exist. IBM Spectrum LSF Application Center will automatically copy it to the specified directory when running the application.
  4. Add the win_app_runner task to Windows Task Scheduler.
    1. Select Start > Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler, select Task Scheduler Library, click Import Task ..., and select the win_app_runner.xml file to import.
  5. Configure the Remote Desktop Connection.
    1. Select Start > Computer, right-click and select Properties.
    2. Select Remote Settings.

      The System Properties dialog is displayed.

    3. Under Remote Desktop, select Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure).
  6. Add the Windows users who will run the remote application into the user group Remote Desktop Users.
    1. Select Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management, select Local Users and Groups, select Groups, Remote Desktop Users, right-click, and select Properties.
    2. Click Add and add all users who will run the remote application from IBM Spectrum LSF Application Center into the group.
      Note: All users must be local user accounts(for example: .\Administrator) and the user password cannot exceed more than 13 characters.

      For example:

  7. Configure the VNC Server.
    1. Select Start > Administrative Tools > Services to display the Services Control Panel.
    2. Select VNC Server and set it to Startup Type: Disabled. This is because the VNC Server will be automatically started when the remote application runs in user mode.
    3. Start the VNC Server in user mode.
    4. Set the VNC Server Options to Authentication: Windows password, and Encryption: always on.
    5. Shut down the VNC Server.
  8. Log off the Administrator user to release the Windows Remote Desktop session.

What to do next

Configuring the Windows application as a resource in LSF