IT Center Events

Introduction to High-Performance Computing 2019
2019-02-25
Introduction to High-Performance Computing 2019

HPC Seminar

February 25, 2019
11 – 16:30 h
IT Center RWTH Aachen University

Follow-up event PPCES 2019 here >>>
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Introduction to High-Performance Computing (HPC)
This introduction provides basic information about high-performance computing (HPC) at the RWTH Aachen University’s IT Center for different target groups and needs.
It is the basis for the follow-up event PPCES.
It is focussed on the new Cluster CLAIX-2018 that only recently has been installed at the RWTH Aachen University’s IT Center in addition to CLAIX-2016, which has been installed late 2016.
Both are replacing the outdated BULL Cluster which has been installed in 2011 and which will be decommissioned until April 2019.
The event is split into two parts:
The first part provides basic information about HPC resources and targets not only HPC users but also decision markers.
It provides information for the participants to take strategic decisions concerning employment of HPC resources and filing applications for computing projects consuming a decent amount of resources.
We expect no prior knowledge of the participants.
The second part is aimed at those who (want to) use HPC resources and those who (want to) program HPC resources (developers).
It will enable participants to get a better understanding of the skill set they need.
Furthermore, it will enable admins and supporters to improve their support of HPC users by having a better understanding of HPC activities.
You will particularly learn about the most important details on using the new Cluster CLAIX-2018 that has just been installed.
Those who use to run their computing applications on local machines will learn how to run those applications on the RWTH Compute Cluster – provided the necessary software licencies are in place.
Generally, this event is also meant to teach the HPC basics that are needed to take part in our more in-depth event “PPCES” and to help take decisions on which part of PPCES might be interesting for you.
We expect participants to have a basic knowledge of Linux and experience with their applications on any other computing devices.
The presentations will be given in English.
Course Information & Registration Please register for each part seperately.
Part 1 (Morning Session) 11:00 – ~12:30

Target: Enable participants to make decisions concerning the employment of HPC resources and to file applications for computing projects
Target groups: HPC decision makers, supporters, domain scientists, developers, users, admins and students.
Overview

High performance computer architecture basics
CLAIX 2016 + 2018
Storage for HPC
Application software availability
Access, project categories and submission

Please register here for Part I >>>
Part 2 (Afternoon Session) 14:00 – ~16:30

Target: provide the basic knowledge to use the new cluster, give a better understanding of the skill set needed for develop HPC applications, enable admins and supporters to better help and understand HPC users
Target groups: HPC supporters, domain scientists, developers, users, admins and students.
Content overview

Short introduction to parallel programming
Overview on OpenMP, MPI and GPU-Programming
Performance metrics and measurements
Compiler optimizations and switches
Batch job submission
Process and thread allocation in batch jobs
Outlook on follow-up events: PPCES and aiXcelerate

Please register here for Part II >>>
Course Materials
Part 1

HPC_Architecture_Basics.pdf
Storage_Strategy.pdf
Computing_Projects.pdf
Filing_a_Computing_Project_Application.zip

Part 2

Parallel_Programming_Overview.pdf
Performance_Metrics_and_Measurements.pdf
Software_Environment.pdf
Slurm.pdf

Travel Information
Please make your own hotel reservation. You may find a list of hotels in Aachen on the web pages of Aachen Tourist Service. We recommend that you try to book a room at the Novotel Aachen City, Mercure am Graben or Aachen Best Western Regence hotels. These are nice hotels with reasonable prices within walking distance (20-30 minutes, see city map) from the IT Center through the old city of Aachen. An alternative is the IBIS Aachen Marschiertor hotel, located close to the main station, which is convenient if you are traveling by train and also prefer to commute to the IT Center by train (4 trains per hour, 2 stops).
Please, download a sketch of the city (pdf, 415 KB) with some points of interest marked.
You may find a description of how to reach us by plane, train or car here.
Bus lines 33 and 73 connect the city (central bus station) and the Mies-van-der-Rohe-Straße bus stop 6 times per hour.
Most trains between Aachen and Düsseldorf stop at station Aachen West, which is 10 minutes walk away from the IT Center.
From the bus stop and the train station just walk up Seffenter Weg. The first building on the left side at the junction with Kopernikusstraße is the IT Center of RWTH Aachen University. The event will take place in the extension building located at Kopernikusstraße 6.
The weather in Aachen is usually unpredictable. It is always a good idea to carry an umbrella. If you’ll bring one, it might be sunny.

Contact
Paul Kapinos
Tel.: +49 (241) 80-24915
Fax/UMS: +49 (241) 80-624915
E-mail: hpcevent@itc.rwth-aachen.de
