Basic questions on MDCS

I have a few basic questions about MDCS. I did read the documentation but it didn't answer my doubts.

1. What is the purpose of MDCS? The description for MDCS says "The server provides access to multiple workers (MATLAB computational engines that run independently of client sessions) that receive and execute MATLAB code and Simulink models. Multiple users can run their applications on the server simultaneously." But other than the multiple users part, can't the PCT also use multiple workers to perform jobs?

2. That comes to my next question, What is the difference between using just PCT on a bunch of workers and using PCT with MDCS installed on the workers?

3. Does MDCS have any specific commands or commands such as parfor, parfeval and spmd is enough to make use of the capabilities MDCS provides?

Answer 1

[Greg]

PCT = Single system (rarely do you get more than 2 CPUs in a system, so roughly 40-60 cores or workers max). Actually, I recall hearing something about a hard-limit to number of workers in PCT - forget what it is.

EDIT: According to this answer, after R2013b, there is no software limit for PCT, only your physical core count.

MDCS = Cluster. You pay for a certain number of workers, and you can then use that many on any number of systems. Theoretical max of infinite workers, but more like 1024-4096. MDCS requires PCT.

I believe MDCS uses all the same commands as PCT (MDCS does not come with its own), but certain commands are more PCT friendly and others are more MDCS friendly.