Working directory

The Working directory setting specifies where temporary files should be created. This setting is only relevant to standard (non-containerized) external applications. For containerized external applications, the working directory is defined in the containerized execution environment, as described in Configuring the containerized execution environment.

Default temp-dir
Temporary files will be placed under the directory specified by the java.io.tmpdir setting for the system.
Shared temp-dir
Temporary files will be placed under the directory you specify. The files will be accessible to all execution nodes and the master server without needing to be moved between machines.

To be available for use as a shared temp-dir, a directory must be:

  • Already configured as an Import/export directory(see Import/export directories).
  • A shared directory, accessible by all machines where the external application will be executed.

Grid environments: For an external application to be executable on grid nodes, the Shared temp-dir option must be chosen for the working directory.

Job node setups: For an external applications to run on job nodes, either Working directory option is fine. However, if the directory specified by java.io.tmpdir is not an area shared between machines, and it usually is not, choosing Default temp-dir means that files will need to be moved between the master and job nodes.