# Presentation: 359431

**Overview of the Computer **
**Resource Team (CRT)**
- Blaise Barney (LLNL)
- Rob Cunningham (LANL)
- Barbara Jennings (Sandia)
*PSAAP Kickoff Meeting*
*July 8, 2008  Albuquerque, NM*

- LLNL-PRES-405061

## What Is The CRT?

**The Computer Resource Team (CRT) is the component of the PSAAP program that connects Alliance researchers to the High Performance Computing (HPC) resources required to perform their work**
**The CRT is comprised of a representative from each NNSA Lab who is familiar with their lab's computing resources, personnel and policies.  The following individuals serve on the CRT: **
**Blaise Barney, LLNL **
**Rob Cunningham, LANL**
**Barbara Jennings, SNL**
**Our primary purpose is to provide assistance and guidance in all aspects related to the use of HPC resources located at LANL, LLNL, Sandia (and SDSC)**

## What Does The CRT Do For You?

**Assist with the establishment and use of computer accounts**
**Assist with accessing compute resources**
**Provide essential HPC user documentation**
**Provide technical support and referral to in-depth consulting**
**Conduct monthly telecons to keep Alliance users up-to-date with account, access, policy, scheduling and technical issues, and to address issues with HPC platform usage **
**Interface with other individuals and groups within the Labs, such as management, networking, system administration, storage, customer support, etc., to facilitate the effective support of Alliance users**

**Track and facilitate the resolution of problems reported to each Labs' customer support “hotline”**
**Provide training opportunities**
**Collect and distribute monthly machine usage statistics**
**Schedule and support special/dedicated runs **
**Maintain a balance of machine usage between the Alliances **
**Conduct annual Alliance visits to discuss HPC resources, user issues and to offer technical consultation and/or training**
**Showcase Alliance research in the NNSA/ASC research exhibit booth at the annual SC conference**

## HPC Compute Resources Available To The Alliances

## Computer Accounts

**Alliances need at least one *****account authorizer*****. This can be a PI, POC and/or a trustworthy, knowledgeable designee**
**Account authorizers are responsible for overseeing the accounts and machine usage for all of their Center's users**
**Each Lab has its own policies, forms and procedures, however there is a single entry portal (sarape.sandia.gov) for requesting an account at any of the 3 labs**
**Account processing for non-US citizens requires additional time and “paperwork” - allow 30-90 days (plan ahead)**
**Having a “backup” authorizer is important if the primary authorizer is often not available**
**The CRI has sent all PSAAP POCs and PIs “quick sheets” for getting started with account requests and account management.**
**Questions? Contact your CRT representative (depends upon the Lab where the account is requested)**

## Computer Access

**To access any machine, you must first have an account on that machine**
**As with accounts, each lab has its own access policies and procedures**
**All 3 labs require a valid computer account, ssh and use of a password generating device (cryptocard / one-time token), which is sent to you after your initial account request is approved**
**Additionally, LLNL requires remote users to access resources through VPN (virtual private network):**
**Makes your local machine appear to be on the LLNL network**
**VPN accounts are included with original account applications**
**Requires a one-time software download, install and config - or - simply connect via a web interface**

## User Documentation

**Most of what users need to know is available online via web pages hosted by each of the labs. Recommended starting points:**
**LLNL**
**computing.llnl.gov**
**computing.llnl.gov/tutorials/lc_resources**
**LANL**
**computing-int.lanl.gov**
**int.lanl.gov/projects/asci/training/Intro **
**Sandia**
**hpc.sandia.gov**
**clik.sandia.gov**
**SDSC**
**www.sdsc.edu/us**
**Access to this information varies:**
**LLNL, SDSC: most web pages are open – no authentication required**
**Sandia, LANL: most web pages require authentication (need an account setup first)**

## HPC Training

**Training is important – especially for new users**
**Online tutorials are available (see previous User Documentation links)**
**Workshops conducted at the Labs are open to Alliance users**
**Training delivered at your Center or over the Access Grid is also possible**

**Topics include:**
**Getting Started Information**
**Compilers**
**Performance tools, Optimization**
**Debuggers**
**Parallel programming (MPI, OpenMP, Pthreads...)**
**Batch schedulers**
**Architectures (Purple, Redstorm, TLCC, etc.)**
**Visualization tools**

**Topic specific, customized training? The CRT can assist here too.**

## Customer Support and Problem Tracking

**Customer support for technical and accounting issues is available via phone and email during normal business hours:**
**Problems and questions are tracked via a customer support database application (varies with each Lab).**

**Most problems/questions are handled via “Tier 1” support – the “hotline” at each Lab. **
**More in-depth issues are typically referred to local “Tier 2” support – a specialist.**
**The labs coordinate with hardware and software vendors for issues that require outside “Tier 3” support.**
**Off-hours support handled by Operations staff**
**CRT reps coordinate regularly with each other on Tri-lab user issues.**

## Dedicated Runs (DATs)

**Normally, Alliance users share machine usage with other users - jobs are typically submitted to a batch system, queued, and wait their turn for execution.**
**Additionally, there are limits on the number of nodes and number of hours that a job can use.**

**Exclusive use of a machine (dedicated application time - DAT) can be requested by any Alliance.  For example, at LLNL:**
**Most weekends are dedicated to Alliance use of the ALC and UP clusters**
**Normal node/time limits are not in effect**
**No other user jobs are run - only those of the scheduled Alliance(s)**
**How to request a DAT:**
**LLNL: computing.llnl.gov/forms/ASC_dat_form.html**
**LANL: email to consult@lanl.gov**
**Sandia: email to redstorm-help@sandia.gov**

## Communications

**Monthly telecons and email list (asap-crt@lanl.gov)**
**Active participation by all 8 Alliances, LLNL, LANL, Sandia and SDSC**
**Forum for discussion/questions on user topics such as accounts, access, technical issues, machine schedules, etc.**
**First Wed each month, 1:00pm Pacific time**
**Toll-free number hosted by the CRT: 866-914-3976   code: 187522#**
**Minutes are distributed via our email list to all Alliances, ASC HQ and various staff & managers within the Labs**
**Let us know if you want anyone else at your Center added to our list - initially it includes only your POC and PI**
**Usage stats**
**Collected by the CRT and distributed with the telecon minutes**
**Present both aggregate and detailed usage (down to the user level) for each Lab (and SDSC).**

## Communications

**Email & phone**
**Customer support staff at each lab are available for assistance and are also active in sending out important machine/network status notices.**
**The CRT can be contacted directly by any of your Center's users:**
**Blaise Barney (LLNL) *****blaiseb@llnl.gov  *****925-422-2578**
**Rob Cunningham (LANL) *****rtc@lanl.gov  *****505-665-4444  x05704 **
**Barbara Jennings (Sandia) *****bjjenni@sandia.gov  *****505-845-8554 **
**Visits**
**Annual visits (2-4 hrs) to the Alliances by the CRT and Lab customer support staff:**
**Focus is on the Alliance **_***users***_** of HPC computing resources**
**Updates on architectures, policies, future plans at the Labs**
**Forum for discussing user issues, problems, questions**
**We can include technical "training" sessions also if desired**
**We'll be contacting you soon to setup an initial visit - after your users have accounts - possibly Sep-Oct time frame?**

## Questions?