Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite - System Requirements
Hardware Requirements
CPU
X64 architecture computer with Intel Pentium or Xeon family processors with Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) processor technology; AMD Opteron family processors; AMD Phenom family processors; AMD Athlon 64 family processors; compatible processor(s).

RAM
512 MB

Multiprocessor Support
Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition and Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard support up to four processors (sockets) per server. Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise supports up to eight processors per server. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter supports up to 64 processors per server.

Note: HPC Pack 2008 R2 can address up to 64 cores on a single server regardless of edition.

Minimum disk space for set up
50 GB

Disk volumes
A single system volume is required for the head and compute nodes. Redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is supported, but not required. The system volume must be a Master Boot Record (MBR). Additional volumes can be MBR or GUID Partition Table (GPT).

Network interface card
At least one network interface card (NIC) is required. If a private network is used, the head node requires at least two NICs, and compute nodes at least one. Each node may also require a high-speed NIC for an application network.

Software Requirements
The following are the different requirements per HPC workload:
Head nodes*: x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, or HPC Edition.

Compute nodes: x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, or HPC Edition

Broker nodes*: x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, or HPC Edition

Workstation nodes: x86-based or x64-based processors editions of Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise

*Note: To enable failover clustered (aka High Availability or HA) the operating system for the head or broker nodes must use either Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise or Datacenter editions.

The cluster head node requires access to a local or remote SQL Server as a data repository. An existing SQL Server 2008 installation can be used, or the HPC Pack 2008 R2 installer will install SQL Express. SQL Server Standard Edition or SQL Server Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition is required for head node failover clustering.

The administration console and the user console for job submission are automatically installed on the head node. These components can also be installed on other computers allowing either remote management of the cluster or job submission from client computers. The supported operating systems for installation of the remote components are:
Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate (x86- or x64-based)

Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Home, or Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 or later (x86- or x64-based)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition (x86- or x64-based)

Windows Server 2008 Standard, Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 HPC Edition (x86- or x64-based)

Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition or Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition (x86- or x64-based)

Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition, Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, or Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with Service Pack 2 or later (x86- or x64-based)

Supported Languages
Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite is available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese. Microsoft HPC Pack 2008 R2 will also install on any of the Windows Server 2008 R2 x64-based operating systems (Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter). When installed on an edition of Windows that does not match the HPC Pack languages, the HPC Pack user interfaces will be displayed in English.