MATLAB: Is it possible for the Local Scheduler to start up workers and keep them running without shutting them down after each job in Parallel Computing Toolbox 5.2 (R2011b)

Question

I would like to change the local scheduler of Parallel Computing Toolbox to keep the MATLAB processes alive (just like MDCS Job Manager does). If this is not possible, is there any technical reason as to why the local configuration cannot keep the MATLAB processes alive?

Answer 1

The local scheduler does not register itself as a service in the operating system service registry. It runs as part of the current MATLAB session. Hence, it is not possible for it to start up persistent workers.

The local scheduler was more intended to serve as a development and testing scheduler.

Without the MDCS Job Manager or a third party scheduler, the only way to keep workers running on the local machine is to keep the MATLAB session open, and then to open MATLABPOOL at the beginning and keep it open until finished. However, to use this setup, the code needs to use PARFOR or SPMD commands, as opposed to submitting jobs and tasks to already open workers.