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compute resources

  • In general, the offers are limited to members of I-MATH & DM3L and their students.
  • Other UZH members are welcome to contact support@math.uz.ch .
  • First time user: contact support@math.uzh.ch first.

Reservations

Make reservations on https://made-fb1.math.uzh.ch/

  • Short (< 1 day) computations don't need a reservation,
  • Longer (> 1 day) are recommended to be done with a reservation.
  • With reservation: In case of maintenance need, we typically schedule the maintenance according to the needs of the user.
  • Without reservation: We try to contact the user and wait several hours for an answer.
  • General: if we see running computations, we always contact the user first (independent of whether or not a reservation exists). If the user doesn't answer (weekend, holiday, ...) we decide on our own what to do.

Offers

  • For small / ad hoc computations, just start the compute software via the ThinLinc environment.
  • For medium computations, please contact support@math.uzh.ch to ask for the best fitting possibility and to reserve nodes.
  • For large computations and professional support please check http://www.s3it.uzh.ch/.

Resources at I-MATH & DM3L

Host Purpose CPU GPU RAM Local disks Purchase OS
Model Speed Cores Model VRAM
aroca research AMD EPYC 9334^1^ x2 2.70 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada 48 GB 512 GB 2x 240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
bellow research AMD EPYC 9334^1^ x2 2.70 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S x4 48 GB 512 GB 2x 240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
sulem research AMD EPYC 9334^1^ x2 2.70 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA A40 x2 (stacked) 96 GB 512 GB 2x 240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
zahedi research AMD EPYC 9334^1^ x2 2.70 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x 240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
ribeiro research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
sushko research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
swart research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
vernon research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
vinzant research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
wheeler research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) NVIDIA L40S 48 GB 512 GB 2x240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
willbanks research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) --- 512 GB 2x 240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
terracini research AMD EPYC 7763^2^ 2,45 GHz 64 (HT) --- 512 GB 2x 240 GB, 8TB NVMe 12/2024 Ubuntu 24.04
rambo research AMD-EPYC-7742 2,25 GHz 64 (HT) --- 512 GB 240GB, 2TB 08/2021 Ubuntu 24.04
olive research AMD-EPYC-7502P 2,50 GHz 32 (HT) --- 512 GB 240GB 04/2022 Ubuntu 24.04
oja research AMD-EPYC-7502P 2,50 GHz 32 (HT) --- 512 GB 240GB 04/2022 Ubuntu 20.04
stokes research AMD-EPYC-7502P 2,50 GHz 32 (HT) --- 512 GB 240GB 04/2022 Ubuntu 24.04
walker student AMD-EPYC-7502P 2,50 GHz 32 (HT) --- 512 GB 240GB 04/2022 Ubuntu 24.04
Old servers
brady research Intel Core 6C i7-8700K 3,70 GHz 12 (HT) GigaByte GeForce GTX 1070 G1 8 GB 64 GB 80GB, 2TB 02/2018 Ubuntu 24.04
david research Intel Xeon 10C E7-2850 x 8 2,00 GHz 80 (no HT) GigaByte GeForce GTX 1070 G1 8 GB 512 GB 240GB 05/2013 Ubuntu 24.04
estonia0 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
estonia1 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
estonia2 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
estonia3 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
georgia0 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
georgia1 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
georgia2 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
georgia3 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
iran0 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
iran1 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
iran2 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
iran3 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
jordan0 professors & assistants: matlab, mathematica, maple, R Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
jordan1 research Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
jordan2 courses Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04
jordan3 courses Intel Xeon 6C E5-2640 2.50 GHz 12 (no HT) --- 256 GB 2 TB 05/2012 Ubuntu 24.04

Mainboard:

General

Access

  • The compute nodes can be accessed by SSH only and only from inside I-MATH/DM3L.
  • Option A: Use ThinLinc as starting point 
    • MatLab, Mathematica, Maple, R, RStudio: start the application via menu 'Applications > Science > ...' - you will be redirected automatically to the appropriate compute server.
    • For non standard compute software (e.g. python programs) please log on the compute node via ssh (no jumphost required), then start the program. 
  • Option B: SSH - sign into ssh.math.uzh.ch (=jumphost) and jump to the compute node again via ssh.

Best practice: Combinated SSH setup for compute user

The following described setup is a multi step and complicated setup - use it, if you frequently have to log on and/or to make the log in as easy as possible. Invest 20mins to do the setup, if you fail: contact our support ... the benefits are worth.

  • Benefit: no password required, only one command to get a running ssh session.
  • Cost: setup has to be done on every computer you want to use for the ssh session.
1) Initial SSH login on ssh.math.uzh.ch

To use 'ssh', you need a ssh-client program:

  • MS Windows: install/activate WSL (suggested Distro: Ubuntu).
  • Linux / MacOS X: ssh is already installed.

Open a terminal (WIndows: CMD) and type ssh ssh.math.uzh.ch:

$ ssh ssh.math.uzh.ch
Welcome to Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS (GNU/Linux 5.15.0-186-generic x86_64)
...
  • If you do this the first time, you have to accept the host Key.
  • Without private/public key setup (next step), you will be asked for your password (same as thinlinc) and MFA token.
  • Keep this windows open during the next step.
2) SSH: private / public key setup

Optional: more detailed description.

  • Open a second terminal and type ssh-keygen -t ed25519:
[your computer]
$ ssh-keygen -t ed25519
Generating public/private ed25519 key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/home/.../.ssh/id_ed25519): 
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
...
Your identification has been saved in /home/...
Your public key has been saved in /home/...
...

$ cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
ssh-ed25519 AAA....
  • Show the new created public key and copy the content (on line 12:  ssh-ed25519...) to the clipboard.
  • Go back to the first terminal where you are still logged in by ssh on host ssh.math.uzh.ch. Replace everything between the double quotes with your newly created public key (it's in your clipboard).
    Hint: after typing echo " use the right mouse button and choose paste, than type the rest " >> ~/.ssh/authhorized_keys and presse ENTER.
$ echo "ssh-ed25519 AAA..." >> ~/.ssh/authhorized_keys
  • Final check: open a third terminal and type again ssh ssh.math.uzh.ch - you should be logged in without providing a password or MFA token.

 

3) Automated login on final compute host 
4) SSH session resumeable


Operating System

  • Ubuntu LTS (Linux) - all compute servers.
  • Very very limited software might be installed on some Windows virtual machines.

Storage

  • If you need more disk space, please contact support@math.uzh.ch .
  • Remote (NFS)
    • Personal Home directory
    • /compute/
  • Local
    • /export/user/

Programs / Software

  • All compute servers use the same applications and versions as installed on the ThinLinc terminals.
  • Please report missing or outdated software or wishes to support@math.uzh.ch .
  • There is no Intel C or Intel Fortran Compiler.
  • If you need other program versions than the default one: open a terminal, type the program name followed by two 'TAB' presses: this will show all available installed versions of the specified program.

Parallel computing

  • Cluster software
    • Not installed / offered at I-MATH/DM3L.
    • Various MPI packages and libs are installed. Compiling and preparation to run programs later on a distributed compute cluster are possible.
  • Some programs, like matlab, offer limited built-in auto parallelization.
  • All of the compute nodes are shared memory machines. It's reasonable to start as many programs in parallel as long the load is less or equal the number of cores.
    • Determine the load by using the command uptime via a terminal. The last three numbers are the average number of jobs (=load) in the run queue over the last 1, 5 and 15 minutes.
$ uptime
 15:55:20 up 22 days, 24 min,  1 user,  load average: 11.97, 11.73, 11.62

Monitoring

  • List GPUs
nvidia-smi
  • Show GPU-Usage (Load, Temperature, Watts-Usage etc.)
nvtop -d 2
  • Fan status (Rounds per Minute etc.)
fanstatus

Limitations

  • Memory
    • Soft: 64GB
    • Hard: unlimited
  • Number of processes per user
    • Soft: 2048
    • Hard: 4096
  • Change limitations
$ ulimit -m unlimited
$ ulimit -u 4096
  • Make sure to increase a hard limit only one time. If you try to increase it a second time, you'll get an error. You have to log out and log in again to get a new chance.