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Quickstart

This guide is your step-by-step resource for getting started with the NSCC high-performance computing (HPC) systems. We'll cover everything from your first login to running and managing jobs, all while adopting best practices for a shared, large-scale environment.

What Makes HPC Systems Different?

An HPC system isn’t just a faster workstation; it’s a shared environment combining hundreds of thousands of processor cores, hundreds of terabytes of memory, and petabytes of storage, all linked by high-speed networks to tackle massive computational problems at a scale no single machine could.

Because the cost of ownership is too great for any one user, such systems are shared by the entire user community. This means you don't run applications instantly. Instead, all work is managed by a scheduler, which places user "jobs" into a queue. This ensures the hardware is used efficiently and that access is fair for everyone.

Basic Workflow

Your interaction with the HPC systems involves two main steps:

  1. Connect to a login node

    This is the entry point to the systems, where you authenticate, manage files, and prepare your jobs. As a shared entry point, it is critical that you do not run heavy computations here.

  2. Submit and manage your job

    From the login node, you will submit your job to the scheduler, monitor its progress and performance, and retrieve your results once it's finished.

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All set? Let’s get started!