Running remote jobs with Microsoft MPI

This page outlines the process of running a simulation on a remote Windows computer using Microsoft MPI. 

Notes

• Computers are running on a supported Windows system.
• Running same version of Ansys Lumerical. 
• Using the same version of Microsoft MPI. 
• Simulation file is stored on a shared network folder accessible by mapped drive and path. 
• Only Concurrent Parametric Jobs are supported. 
• Distributed computation for FDTD and varFDTD is Not Supported. 

Configure Microsoft MPI

The version of SMPD for the bundled Microsoft MPI does not start automatically at startup. The SMPD must be started manually on each computer that will be running the simulation. 

1. Log into each computer that will be used to run the simulation.
2. Open the command prompt.
3. Run the following command.

     "C:\Program Files\Microsoft MPI\Bin\smpd.exe" -debug

4. Do Not Close the command prompt window that is running the Microsoft MPI smpd.
5. Do Not Sign Out from the remote computer.

Running the simulation

1. Open the "Resources" on the Ansys Optics IDE 
2. Add the remote host, entering the hostname/IP address and resources configuration accordingly. 
3. Set Microsoft MPI as the Job launching preset. 
4. Run the simulation job using the remote resource.  

Notes:

• To run concurrent parameter sweeps or optimizations, simply add a resource for each remote Windows computer that will be running your simulations. 

See also

How to run simulations with Intel MPI on Windows 

Running simulations remotely with MPI  

Configuring resources for parallel jobs across several computers on Windows