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?
Q: Where is the HPCC located?
A: The HPCC center is located in College of Staten Island.
Q: How to login to the HPCC?
A: Only secure shell protocol 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
Q: Who is entitled to an account on HPCC?
A: Every CUNY faculty, researcher, graduate student is entitled to have an account on HPCC servers. The undergraduate student who attend a class which requires HPC resources also can 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.
Q: Can a collaborator from outside CUNY also have HPCC account?
A: Yes, any collaborator of active researcher may obtain an account. These accounts are good for a year and must be renewed on or before Sept 30th. However, the account cannot extend beyond duration of the project.
Q: How to obtain an account?
A: If above conditions are met, the account can be obtained via the web form at: https://hpcreg1.csi.cuny.edu/forms/application.php
Q: How does one renew an account?
A: Active researcher, graduate student or faculty should complete the online form for account renewal on or before Sept 30th but not before August 31st. The form is available online at: https://hpcreg1.csi.cuny.edu/forms/application.php
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.
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.
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.
Q: How to run a job?
A: Only via PBS scheduler. Details are in the User Manual. Users are free to run jobs 24/7 except days and hours when the server is under maintenance. Jobs can be run only via a batch scheduler. Running jobs on login node is strictly forbidden and may cause suspension of the account.
Q: How to report a problem?
A: Users must use ticketing system available at:
https://hpchelp.csi.cuny.edu/
Q: How to request installation of application?
A: Users must use ticketing system at: https://hpchelp.csi.cuny.edu/
Q: How to transfer files from a workstation to HPCC and vice versa?
A: Users must use Globus online service and data transfer node cia.csi.cuny.edu. Details are in user manual and HPCC wiki page.
For small files the user may also use sftp or scp protocol.
Large number of small files must be packed as tar archive before transfer.
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
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.)