Background Information

Parallelization in Mathematica uses the hub-and-spoke model in which a controlling kernel manages a number of subordinate kernels (subkernels). Remote computers that have Mathematica installed can provide additional subkernels beyond the local subkernels.

A remote computer that provides subkernels is considered a host, while the computer running the controlling kernel is considered the client. If the host computer is running a Linux or macOS operating system, then Mathematica can use SSH to connect with remote Wolfram kernels.

Setup

1. Set up passwordless private/public key pairs between the host and client computers. Please contact your local System Administrator for help, if necessary.
2. Start Mathematica on the client computer and open a new notebook.

3. In the notebook, specify an SSH kernel on the remote machine with KernelConfiguration:

   kernel = KernelConfiguration["ssh://remote-host-name", "KernelCommand" -> "full path to kernel"]

   For example, to specify an SSH kernel on a remote macOS machine with a default installation of Mathematica:

   In[1]:= kernelConfigMacOS = KernelConfiguration["ssh://myRemoteMac",
   "OperatingSystem" -> "MacOSX", "KernelCount" -> 4]
   

   For a default installation of Mathematica on a remote Linux machine:

   In[1]:= kernelConfigLinux = 
   KernelConfiguration["ssh://myRemoteLinux", "KernelCount" -> 8]

4. Launch the remote kernels with LaunchKernels[], and use any parallel functionality to perform parallel computations.

   For example, use four kernels launched on the remote macOS machine for parallel computations:

   In[2]:= LaunchKernels[kernelConfigMacOS];
   ParallelEvaluate[{$KernelID, $MachineName, $Version}]
   
   
   Out[3]= {{9, myRemoteMac, 14.1.0 for Mac OS X ARM (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)},
   {10, myRemoteMac, 14.1.0 for Mac OS X ARM (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)},
   {11, myRemoteMac, 14.1.0 for Mac OS X ARM (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)},
   {12, myRemoteMac, 14.1.0 for Mac OS X ARM (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)}}

   Use four kernels launched on the remote Linux machine for parallel computations:

   In[2]:= LaunchKernels[kernelConfigLinux];
   ParallelEvaluate[{$KernelID, $MachineName, $Version}]
   
   
   Out[3]= {{17, myRemoteLinux, 14.1.0 for Linux x86 (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)},
   {18, myRemoteLinux, 14.1.0 for Linux x86 (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)},
   {19, myRemoteLinux, 14.1.0 for Linux x86 (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)},
   {20, myRemoteLinux, 14.1.0 for Linux x86 (64-bit) (June 16, 2024)}}
   

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