Parallel execution of function with global time limit possible?

I want to run an algorithm I made multiple times over a weekend. Since I have access to a workstation I want to use parallel computing as each iteration is time consuming.

However calculation time can vary wildly, with the longest being more than 20 times longer than the shortest. How it varies is also not deterministic.

So I am wondering if there is a way to set a global time limit, so that I can start it on Friday around 5pm and it runs 63 hours until roughly 8am Monday morning?

Alternatively, does continue work in a parfor loop? I know break and return do not work.

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

If you're running MATLAB Distributed Computing Server with the MATLAB Job Scheduler, you can set a timeout for jobs and tasks:

http://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2014a/distcomp/parallel.job.html

Otherwise, using a test against the clock and then otherwise continuing (continue does work in parfor) is probably a good approach.

[Daniel]

Once more I can say thanks a lot.