Hardware and OS for solver computer, for CFD 2024

[anindo]

Hi, 

I will soon have access to a quad Xeon Gold 6258R server (28 x 4 = 112 cores) with 128 GB RAM. I searched for system requirements for Autodesk CFD 2024, but could only find details for CFD 2019 and previous (System requirements for Autodesk CFD products). 

I am aware that the solver computer will only be able to use 2^n cores, so I assume it will use at most 64 cores of this Xeon server. I have some questions about the implementation:

1. Can Autodesk CFD 2024 use a quad-processor server at all? In these forums, the highest configuration I could find mention of was dual processor. 
2. What operating system can I use for the solver computer? Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise does not support more than 2 processors, AFAIK, but there is a spare Windows Server 2019 license I can requisition. Will CFD's solver install on Server 2019, or do I need a later version? Are there any other (less expensive) Windows editions that are known to work for CFD 2024 on a quad-core Xeon?
3. Is there anything specific required for installing and enabling the license for the solver computer separate from the interface computer?
4. I have a single subscription seat assigned to me, will I have to request an additional seat for the solver computer?
5. The server will physically be in a different location from me, with access over a VPN. Are there any issues to be addressed around this?
6. Does the solver effectively utilize 128 GB RAM? Would requesting an upgrade to 256 GB be significantly beneficial?
7. Since the Solver will use only 64 cores, is there a way to set up a HyperV / virtual server implementation to utilize 32 of the remaining 48 cores as a second solver computer? Will THAT require additional licenses?

It would be helpful if someone could point me to the official system requirements page for CFD 2024, as well as recommended builds exceeding the minimums. 

Thanks, 

--

Anindo Ghosh

[carolgrey98]

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@anindoNextCare Urgent Care wrote:

Hi, 

I will soon have access to a quad Xeon Gold 6258R server (28 x 4 = 112 cores) with 128 GB RAM. I searched for system requirements for Autodesk CFD 2024, but could only find details for CFD 2019 and previous (System requirements for Autodesk CFD products). 

I am aware that the solver computer will only be able to use 2^n cores, so I assume it will use at most 64 cores of this Xeon server. I have some questions about the implementation:

1. Can Autodesk CFD 2024 use a quad-processor server at all? In these forums, the highest configuration I could find mention of was dual processor. 
2. What operating system can I use for the solver computer? Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise does not support more than 2 processors, AFAIK, but there is a spare Windows Server 2019 license I can requisition. Will CFD's solver install on Server 2019, or do I need a later version? Are there any other (less expensive) Windows editions that are known to work for CFD 2024 on a quad-core Xeon?
3. Is there anything specific required for installing and enabling the license for the solver computer separate from the interface computer?
4. I have a single subscription seat assigned to me, will I have to request an additional seat for the solver computer?
5. The server will physically be in a different location from me, with access over a VPN. Are there any issues to be addressed around this?
6. Does the solver effectively utilize 128 GB RAM? Would requesting an upgrade to 256 GB be significantly beneficial?
7. Since the Solver will use only 64 cores, is there a way to set up a HyperV / virtual server implementation to utilize 32 of the remaining 48 cores as a second solver computer? Will THAT require additional licenses?

It would be helpful if someone could point me to the official system requirements page for CFD 2024, as well as recommended builds exceeding the minimums. 

Thanks, 

--

Anindo Ghosh

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Hi Anindo,

Autodesk CFD 2024 should work on your quad Xeon server, though it will likely utilize up to 64 cores due to solver parallelism limits. Windows Server 2019 is a solid choice for the OS, as it supports multi-processor setups, unlike Windows 11 Pro. For licensing, you'll only need one seat unless you’re running multiple solvers concurrently. VPN access should be fine as long as the license server is properly configured. With 128 GB RAM, you should be good for most simulations, but upgrading to 256 GB could help for very large models. Hyper-V might work for additional solvers, but you'd need separate licenses for each VM. For the official system requirements, check Autodesk’s Knowledge Network for the most up-to-date details.

Hope this helps!

[anindo]

hi Carol, 

Thanks for your response. Breaking down some of the points from your mail:

• ... it will likely utilize up to 64 cores due to solver parallelism limits.
  • Agreed, I understand that
• For licensing, you'll only need one seat unless you’re running multiple solvers concurrently.
  • I do want to run a second solver on a virtual machine utilizing the unused cores, but therein lies a problem: I reached out to the reseller for an additional seat license for Autodesk CFD, but they believe only one seat can be associated with a given Autodesk ID. That constrains me unless there's a solution from Autodesk's side.
• VPN access should be fine as long as the license server is properly configured.
  • Solved: I configured ZeroTier to integrate the two machines into a virtual LAN, and it's working fine for this purpose, allowing the CFD Solver Manager to submit jobs to the remote Solver Computer. CFD Job monitor also sees status changes on both servers in real-time.
• Hyper-V might work for additional solvers, but you'd need separate licenses for each VM.
  • Which is a problem, as noted above.
• For the official system requirements, check Autodesk’s Knowledge Network for the most up-to-date details.
  • I did check the Knowledge Network before posting, but quad Xeon, Server OS for it, and the VPN issue seem not to be touched upon anywhere I could find. I would appreciate a pointer to a relevant post or page. 

Thanks again, 

Regards

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Anindo Ghosh