Training
GACRC Training
The GACRC regularly hosts training sessions on a number of subjects relevant to the use of our computational and storage resources. Scheduled trainings will be announced through the GACRC mailing list.
NOTE: New users are required to attend a Sapelo2 cluster introductory training session and information about that will be sent once an account is requested.
Regular Training Announcement
In February 2025, the GACRC is hosting 8 training sessions listed below. These training workshops will be offered remotely via Zoom Meeting. Detailed instructions for joining the Zoom meeting will be sent to your UGA email account before each training session you register for.
We will offer:
1. Linux training for Linux-inexperienced cluster new users (3 sessions)
2. Sapelo2 cluster new user training (3 sessions)
3. Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC, Part II (1 session)
4. Installing Software Packages in Virtual Environments on Sapelo2 (1 session) NEW
Event Schedule
This section describes the training workshops that we offer, along with the sessions that are currently scheduled.
Sapelo2 Cluster New User Training
This mandatory training consists of an overview of the structure of Sapelo2 as well as hands-on practice submitting a job along with guidance and best practices when using the Sapelo2 cluster.
Prerequisites:
- Linux basics. A Linux-inexperienced user must complete a prerequisite Linux training for Linux-inexperienced cluster new users.
Workshop Training Goals:
- Understand the layout of Sapelo2
- Understand the Sapelo2 file systems
- Understand the Sapelo2 partitions
- Understand the Sapelo2 software environment
- Understand how to request computing resources and submit a computational batch job following the Sapelo2 cluster general workflow
- Understand how to initiate an interactive job
- Understand how to transfer files to and from the cluster
- Understand how to get support from GACRC support team when you have any issues on cluster
Scheduled Sessions:
| Title | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC | February 7th, Friday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC | February 12th, Wednesday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC | February 20th, Thursday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Linux Training for Linux-inexperienced Cluster New Users
The Sapelo2 High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster runs a headless Linux distribution as the operating system on each of its constituent nodes. The term headless refers to the fact that these nodes do not have a desktop graphical user interface (GUI) installed by default. Graphical desktop environments consume resources that analyses could otherwise use, so users employ a command-line interface (CLI) instead. To interact with these resources, users connect to a remote terminal via SSH and execute commands.
The Linux Training workshop provides hands-on practice of the fundamental Linux commands necessary to interact with HPC resources.
Prerequisite:
Please watch the introductory videos on Linux, basic Linux terms, and Linux Paths and Directories (total ~17 minutes) before attending the training workshop.
Training Goals:
1. Understand fundamental concepts of Linux working environment (filesystem hierarchy, path, PATH, etc.)
2. Know how to use Linux common commands (ls, cd, pwd, cat, more, nano, mkdir, rm, cp, mv, etc.)
3. Understand what is Linux bash shell and know how to make a simple Linux script and run it in Linux environment
Scheduled Sessions:
| Title | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Use Linux on Cluster | February 5th, Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Use Linux on Cluster | February 10th, Monday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Use Linux on Cluster | February 18th, Tuesday, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC, Part II
This workshop will cover high-performance computing on Sapelo2, including job scheduling, resource requests (CPU, memory, GPU), and techniques for optimizing job performance.
Prerequisites:
- Linux basics. A Linux-inexperienced user must complete a prerequisite Linux training for Linux-inexperienced cluster new users.
- Sapelo2 cluster new user training. Fundamental HPC and Sapelo2 knowledge is required for this advanced Sapelo2 workshop.
Training Goals:
1. Learn about high-performance computing framework
2. Why is my job pending? How can I get my job to start sooner? How to find available computing resources on Sapelo2?
3. How to request computing resources such as nodes, CPU cores, memory, GPU device, etc. to run serial, threaded, MPI, and GPU jobs on Sapelo2?
4. How can I make my job run more efficiently (through the correct use of software and hardware)?
5. A quick intro to MPI library and how to compile/run MPI jobs on Sapelo2
Scheduled Sessions:
| Title | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC, Part II | January 17th, Friday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC, Part II | February 21st, Friday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Installing Software Packages in Virtual Environments on Sapelo2
This workshop will cover the basics of virtual environments as well as provide practical guidance and best practices for using virtual environments on the Sapelo2 cluster. Participants will learn the basics of creating and configuring virtual environments, how to install software packages in both a Conda virtual environment and a Python virtual environment, and manage dependencies in their environments.
Prerequisite:
Must already have strong understanding of the Linux environment and Sapelo2.
Training Goals:
1. Learn how to create a virtual environment on Sapelo2
2. Be able to install software packages into both Conda and Python virtual environments
3. Understand how to manage dependencies of their virtual environments
Scheduled Sessions:
| Title | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Installing Software Packages in Virtual Environments on Sapelo2 | February 19th, Wednesday, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
How to Register
The training workshops Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC and Use Linux on Cluster are ONLY offered to new users who need user accounts on the GACRC Sapelo2 cluster or current Sapelo2 users seeking a refresher. If you would like to use the cluster, please ask your group PI/UGA faculty member to send us an account creation request for you, using the User Account Request Form.
If you would like to attend the Using Sapelo2 Cluster at the GACRC, Part II and/or Installing Software Packages in Virtual Environments on Sapelo2 training workshops, please send us a request using the Training Request Form. In your request, please tell us which session(s) you would like to attend.
Download
This section provides the slides that we use for our current workshops and material used for several of our past training events and presentations.
Sapelo2 Cluster Training
| Media:GACRC_Sapelo2_cluster_new_user_training_workshop_v10.8.pdf |
Teaching Cluster Training
| Media:GACRC-Teaching-cluster-new-user-training-workshop-Spring2025.pdf |
Linux Training for New Cluster Users
| Media:Linux_Training_For_New_Users_Of_Cluster_Suchi_04252019.pdf |
Python Basics
| Media:Python_Language_Basics_I_v5.1.pdf |
| Media:Python_Language_Basics_II_v5.1.pdf |
| Media:Python_Basics_v6.1.pdf |
R Basics
| Media:R_Language_Basics_PowerPoint_v2.0.pdf |
| Media:R_Language_Basics_Document_v2.0.pdf |
| Media:R_Language_Basics_part_2_Powerpoint_v1.0.pdf |
| Media:R_Language_Basics_part_2_Document_v1.0.pdf |
Perl Basics
| Media:Perl_Language_Basics_I_Workshop_v1.pdf |
Sap2test Migration Training
| Media:Migrating_to_Slurm_and_new_software_environment.pdf |
Please note: To help users familiarize with Slurm and the test cluster environment, we have prepared some training videos that are available from the GACRC's Kaltura channel at https://kaltura.uga.edu/channel/GACRC/176125031 (login with MyID and password is required).
Topical Sessions
Out-Reach/In-Class Talk
NOTE: The slides may become outdated and you should always check GACRC Wiki for up to date information.