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HPCC FAQs

Where is the HPCC located?
How to login to the HPCC?
Who is entitled to an account on HPCC?
Can a collaborator from outside CUNY also have HPCC account?
How to obtain an account?
How does one renew an account?
Can a user request access to a specific server?
Are users allowed to install particular software in their own space?
What kind of help can a user expect from HPCC staff when installing software in his own directory?
How to run a job?
How to report a problem?
How to request installation of application?
How to transfer files from a workstation to HPCC and vice versa?
How to request increase of home space?
Can HPCC install a licensed application for me?
How tickets are processed?
Are data backup-ed?
Can I start job without using modules?
Where I can get additional information?

Q: Where is the HPCC located?

A: The HPCC center is located in College of Staten Island.
wiki.csi.cuny.edu/cunyhpc/index.php/Main_Page

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Q: How to login to the HPCC?

A: Only secure shell protocol (SSH) is allowed. Telenet is not supported. Users from the CSI campus may login to HPCC servers directly. Users from other campuses must use the chizen   gateway. Here is the typical protocol:
ssh   <user_login>@chizen.csi.cuny.edu
ssh server
Example: User Joe Doe login from CCNY to HPCC server Penzias:
ssh j.doe@chizen.csi.cuny.edu
ssh penzias

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Q: Who is entitled to an account on HPCC?

A: Every CUNY faculty, researcher, staff researcher, graduate student or undergraduate student working with supervisor on research project is entitled to have an account on HPCC servers. The undergraduate student(s) who attend a class which requires HPC resources can also obtain an account. Undergraduate students accounts are good for the duration of the course. All other accounts automatically expire on Sept 30th every year and must be renewed.

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Q: Can a collaborator from outside CUNY also have HPCC account?

A: Yes, any collaborator of active CUNY affiliated researcher may obtain an account. These accounts are good for the duration of collaboration only and must be renewed on or before Sept 30th.   Collaborators’ accounts are automatically disabled and associated data are removed 60 days after conclusion of the collaborative project.

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Q: How to obtain an account?

A: An account can be obtained by providing needed information to HPCC as it is stated in “Administrative information” tab on CUNY-HPCC wiki:
wiki.csi.cuny.edu/cunyhpc/index.php/Administrative_Information

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Q: How does one renew an account?

A: Active researcher, graduate student or faculty should request to renew to account on or before Sept 30th each year. See CUNY-HPCC wiki “Administrative information” tab for details. 
wiki.csi.cuny.edu/cunyhpc/index.php/Administrative_Information

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Q: Can a user request access to a specific server?

A: Access to a specific server is determined by a base of specifics of a job and software stack installed on the server. In general, not all applications are available to all servers, so user must discuss his/her software requirements with HPCC staff before requesting an account and/or special server.

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Q: Are users allowed to install particular software in their own space?

A: Yes. Any user is free to install software in his own space. However, no user can have system privileges. In addition any software which does not meet the security requirements will be removed.

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Q: What kind of help can a user expect from HPCC staff when installing software in his own directory?

A: A User can get help in the form of knowledge sharing, advice and guidance, only if he/she consulted with HPCC staff regarding the compatibility of a desired application to a particular server and system software stack prior to actual installation.

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Q: How to run a job?

A: Only via SLURM scheduler. Users are free to run jobs 24/7 except days and hours when the server is under maintenance. Running jobs on login node is strictly forbidden and may cause suspension of the account.

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Q: How to report a problem?

A: Users must use the CUNY-HPCC ticketing system available at:

hpchelp.csi.cuny.edu/

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Q: How to request installation of application?

A: Users must use ticketing system at: hpchelp.csi.cuny.edu/
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Q: How to transfer files from a workstation to HPCC and vice versa?

A: The details for file transfer are given in CUNY-HPCC wiki. Large number of small files must be packed as tar archive before transfer. 
wiki.csi.cuny.edu/cunyhpc/index.php/File_Transfers

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Q: How to request increase of home space?

A: Extra space will be given after analysis of the actual space needs. Prior to asking for extra space, users must clean up their directories by removing junk files, old and unused files. Users should communicate with HPCC staff about quota increase by sending an email to hpchelp@csi.cuny.edu

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Q: Can HPCC install a licensed application for me?

A: Some applications are licensed only to a user or research group. These applications cannot be installed in common application space by HPCC staff. Applications which require proprietary licenses but are not subject to above restrictions can be installed in common space only when requestors pay for and provide the license. An exception is for licenses for which the University has a group license (Mathematica, MATLAB, Compilers etc.)

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Q: How tickets are processed?

A:The CUNY-HPCC operates with severe staff shortage (reduction of staff by 80%) and with no hardware support of any kind so users should accept extended resolution times of their ticket(s).  Tickets are prioritized so the ones affecting more users or services or those concerning projects with time sensitive status (i.e. conclusion of a project, paper submission etc.) are getting higher priority. Tickets with the same priority are processed in order they are received.

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Q: Are data backup-ed?

A:Data in users’ home directories in basic and advanced tier servers (see CUNY-HPCC wiki for details) are backup-ed on tape once per 24 hours. The data in users’ home directories n condo servers and Arrow server are not backup-ed. The retention time of each backup is 30 days.

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Q: Can I start job without using modules?

A:Modules provide needed environment for the application software installed in common application partition. Direct access to software in that partition (access via full path to executable) does not guarantee proper execution of a code. 

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Q: Where I can get additional information?

A:CUNY-HPCC wiki holds current information about HPCC services, policies and applications.
wiki.csi.cuny.edu/cunyhpc/index.php/Main_Page

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