Documentation

Setting up a Windows compute server

On a Windows system, you will need to start the Compute Server service by selecting the Gurobi Compute Server menu item from the Gurobi folder of the Start menu. You should only do so after you have installed the Gurobi license key file.

Firewalls

The next step after starting the Gurobi compute server depends on your anti-virus software and firewall settings. Most anti-virus software will immediately ask you to confirm that you are allowing programs grb_cs.exe and grb_csw.exe to receive network traffic. Once you confirm this, the compute server will start serving requests. If you don't receive such a prompt, you will need to add grb_cs.exe and grb_csw.exe to the firewall exceptions list. You do this by selecting Allow a program through Windows firewall under the Security area of the Control Panel (labeled Allow an app through Windows firewall in Windows 8). You should add grb_cs.exe and grb_csw.exe to the list of exceptions.

Some machines have more restrictive firewalls that may require additional action. The Gurobi compute server uses ports 61000-65000 by default. If you are unable to reach the compute server after taking the steps described so far, you should ask your network administrator for more information on how to open the required ports.

Compute server parameters

Note that a compute server has a few user-configurable parameters. You can set these by creating a grb_cs.cnf file and placing it in the same directory as grb_cs.exe. Please consult the Gurobi Compute Server section of the Gurobi Reference Manual for details.

Starting and stopping the grb_cs Gurobi service

Once the compute server service has been started, you should see the grb_cs service listed in the Services tab of the Task Manager. To start or stop the service, click on the Services button at the bottom-right of the Services tab, and then right-click on the Gurobi Compute Server item on this screen.

You can also start or stop the Gurobi Compute Server service from a console window (also known as a cmd window) that has administrator privileges. Running grb_cs -h lists command-line options. Issuing a grb_cs -s command stops a running compute server. Issuing a grb_cs -v command starts the compute server in verbose mode. Verbose mode produces a log message (in the Windows Event Log) each time a client starts a job.

To upgrade from an earlier version of the Gurobi Optimizer, you will need to perform the following steps (on all machines running the compute server):

1. Stop the old compute server.
2. Install the new version of the Gurobi Optimizer.
3. Upgrade your license file (or modify GRB_LICENSE_FILE to point to the new license file).
4. Start the new compute server.

Windows services can be stubborn. If the new compute server refuses to start, you may need to delete the old one manually. To do so, type sc delete grb_cs from a cmd window that has administrator privileges.

All output from the Gurobi Compute Server goes to the Windows Event Log. You can access this in Windows Vista or Windows 7 through the Event Viewer. Type Event in the search box under the Start menu to launch the viewer.

Next steps

Clients of a compute server require simple license files. Your next step is to set up a client license.

Once your compute server is running and you've set up a client license, you can move on to testing the license.

You can test the state of the compute server at any time, as well as get a list of both running and queued client jobs, by typing gurobi_cl ---clients from a cmd window.