Fail to start parpool

Hi, All:

I am trying to run Matlab parallel computing in a Mac Pro, but I encounter the following error message when I start the parallel pool using “parpool” command:

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parpool Starting parallel pool (parpool) using the 'LocalDefaultProfile' profile ... Error using parpool (line 103) Failed to start a parallel pool. (For information in addition to the causing error, validate the profile 'LocalDefaultProfile' in the Cluster Profile Manager.)

Caused by: Error using parallel.internal.pool.InteractiveClient>iThrowWithCause (line 665) Failed to initialize the interactive session. Error using parallel.internal.pool.InteractiveClient>iThrowIfBadParallelJobStatus (line 766) The interactive communicating job failed with no message.

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I am using Matlab R2016b, and the (Late 2013) Mac Pro is running OS X El Capitan version 10.11.6. I also have tried the following but none of them works.

1. This problem happened once several months ago when I installed R2016b for the first time on this computer. At that time I was able to solve this problem by creating a new default local cluster profile. But this time the trick doesn’t work anymore.

2. I tried to re-install R2016b but I got the same error message.

3. I tried to set "distcomp.feature( 'LocalUseMpiexec', false );”, but I got the same error message.

4. I also tried to set "distcomp.feature( 'LocalUseMpiexec', true );” because some people found it working for them, but it takes forever to start the parallel pool.

I appreciate if anyone can share the solution of this problem.

[Edric Ellis]

This is definitely not expected - contact MathWorks support who should be able to help you resolve this problem.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

If you have a similar issue about failing to start a parallel pool, see this discussion:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/92124-why-am-i-unable-to-use-parpool-with-the-local-scheduler-or-validate-my-local-configuration-of-parall

[idermann]

Deleting .matlab/local_cluster_jobs solved the problem

[Erick Cardozo]

En matlab r2023b update3, tambien me sivio eliminar el directorio "/local_cluster_jobs", ubicado en C:\Users\<usuario>\AppData\Roaming\MathWorks\MATLAB\local_cluster_jobs. Luego reiniciar Matlab. (Puede que tengas que repetir este procedimiento hasta en tres ocasiones)

Answer 2

[Rana Adhikari]

I am getting this using 2017a & 2017b on a Mac Pro running Sierra

Answer 3

[emjey]

See this discussion below, it should answer your problem:

https://uk.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/196549-failed-to-start-a-parallel-pool-in-matlab2015a

[Lightonz]

2021, matlab version 2020b here. Same problem, differen solution. In my case, a function (split) had the same name as matlab buildin function. I executed

restoredefaultpath;

and removed the file from my startup skript. It seems like parpool rereads the startup file. So, make sure it is not reloaded there.

By the way, you can check this error by opening "Parallel Preferneces" in the lower left corner, then go to Parallel Computing Toolbox >> Cluster Profle Manager >> Click on validate. In case it fails, click on the test to see why it failed.