Modules and Virtual Environments on ARC

Term: Spring 2025

Date: January 17th, 2025

Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Online Only

Instructors: Chris Kuhlman & Sarah Ghazanfari

Presented By: Advanced Research Computing (ARC)

Description:

ARC resources, like many cluster computing systems, are intended to satisfy a broad array of computing needs.  These include different paradigms like serial and different parallel computing models, as well as different hardware (e.g., multi-core and GPU architectures).  To serve these various needs, clusters have a wide range of foundational software that is needed by almost all (or all) users:  operating system and shells, various Linux/Unix tools like sed and awk, and the Slurm job submission system.  However, most users have “specific needs” in order to achieve their goals, e.g., the use of particular programming language compilers, implementations of standards like MPI [Message Passing Interface], and commercial and/or open-source software such as LAMMPS and ANSYS.  Cluster administrators activate or load foundational tools for users when they log in.  Then, for specific needs, clusters provide tools that enable users to control and customize their environment (e.g., one environment is required to run ANSYS, another is required to run LAMMPS).  In this workshop, we introduce modules and virtual environments (VEs) as two ways for users to customize their ARC environments, to get their work done.  Examples are provided.