The current limit of workers in MATLAB2013b for a local cluster is 12 which doesn't reach the server limit of 32 logical cores. A MDCS license for 32 workers costs more than the server hardware. Will MathWorks correct these disparities in the future?

We get a cluster of 12 workers on our local machine for the cost of the Parallel Computing Toolbox. But we run MATLAB on servers with 32 logical cores. So we looked at the MATLAB Distributed Computing Server for 32 workers, which costs (much) more than the server hardware.

When will MathWorks correct this disparity?

Solutions might be releasing a new parallel pool for larger servers (16-64 local workers). Or dropping the price of MDCS to match the trend for more cores but slower cores. Or just increase the number of local workers released with PCT to 16 or 32?

Answer 1

[Edric Ellis]

Please note that in R2014a the limit on the number of local workers was removed. See the release notes.

[Matt J]

Great news!

[Jacob Fugal]

I'd like to thank the MathWorks for this customer friendly move.

Answer 2

[Matt J]

As an end user, I can agree it's always nice to have lower prices. However, I don't know if the ratio of software to hardware cost is going to be a persuasive argument. Why shouldn't the software cost significantly more than the hardware? Why value the software less? The Parallel Computing Toolbox already costs significantly more than the GPU cards needed to run gpuArray...

[Jacob Fugal]

That is a good point, what should determine the prices? The MathWorks decides in this case.

I see two disparities in their pricing structure, and perhaps I should have more carefully stated them: (1) When you get 12 workers for a few hundred (toolbox price), but 16 in MDCS for a few thousand, the next 4 workers cost a whole lot more.** (2) 10 years ago when MDCS first started, 16 cores was a lot and only supercomputers had them. A few thousand for MDCS of 16 workers made sense. These days 16 cores is typical for a single server, but the pricing for MDCS hasn't yet changed accordingly. (Thankfully the local cluster of PCT has gone from 4 to 8 to 12.)

Naturally MDCS has more functionality than the PCT such as running with a scheduler on a remote cluster. But nothing significant for local computation.

[Matt J]

OK, makes sense to me! But you probably have to argue it to the Sales Dept. I doubt they read this board.

Answer 3

[Walter Roberson]

Mathworks does not discuss product plans in public, especially not competitive pricing matters. You will need to talk to a sales representative, who might be able to get authorization to fill you in.

If, hypothetically, Mathworks had told me the plans, then I would be under NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) to not reveal anything. "Those who can say, don't know. Those who know, can't say."