Introduction to High Performance Computing

Module Objectives

This module will be fully interactive. Participants are strongly encouraged to follow along on the command line. After taking this module, participants should be able to:

• Print, identify, and modify environment variables
• List and search for available modules
• Load and unload modules specific to a certain objective
• Automate module and environment commands in the .bashrc
• Prepare and submit a batch job to a queue

Basic High Performance Computing (HPC) System Architecture

Tips for Success

Read the documentation.

• Learn node schematics, limitations, file systems, rules
• Learn about the scheduler, queues, policies
• Determine the right resource for the job

HPC systems are shared resources. Your jobs and activity on a cluster, if mismanaged, can affect others. TACC staff are always available to help.

Topics Covered

• Environment variables – purpose, printing, and defining (echo, env, export).
• Modules – listing, loading, and unloading.
• Automating environment variables, module commands, and aliases in .bashrc.
• Batch job submission, commands dependent on system (sbatch, showq, scancel).

Next: Environment Variables

Top: Course Overview