Limitless Computing

Documentation

Installation and Running

Windows (Installer)

Navigate to the location where you downloaded the file. Double click on the .exe. You must agree to the EULA, and if so, continue by clicking Next> to select the destination directory and finally click Next> install. When it finishes, click Finish. You can now run the application by going to Start->Programs->Limitless Computing->Cluster Access.

Windows (zip)

Navigate to the location where you downloaded the file. Double click on the .zip and extract the files to the location of your choice. You can run the program by going into the lciapp directory that was created and double-clicking on the lciapp.exe file.

Linux (RPM)

Type the following as root:
# cd <where you downloaded the file>
# rpm -i <file>
You can now run the program by typing:
# lciapp

Linux (Deb)

Type the following as root:
# cd <where you downloaded the file>
# deb -i <file>
You can now run the program by typing:
# lciapp

Linux (tar.gz)

Type the following:
# cd <where you downloaded the file>
# tar xfz <file>
You can now run the program by typing:
# cd lciapp
# ./lciapp

Using the application

The application has two main screens: General, and Transfers.

General

This allows you to see the running jobs on your cluster and add additional jobs to your queue.

The top list shows currently running jobs, how much CPU time each job has used, and how many processors each job is using.

To stop a running job, select the job in the list and click the Stop button.

To view details of a running job, select the job in the list and click the Details button. This will display a window showing all the details of the currently running application. Press OK to close the dialog.

The bottom list shows jobs that are in your queue, and how many processors they require.

To add a job to your queue, click the Add button. This will bring up the Add to queue dialog.

To remove a job from your queue, select the job, and click the Remove button.

To hold a job in your queue, select the job, and click the Hold button.

To edit the options of a job, select the job, and click the Edit button.

To see details about a job, select the job, and click the Details button.

Add to queue

The Add to queue window allows configuration of a job to add to the queue.

If you have an existing script on the server to run, just enter the path to the script, or click the ... button to browse the server for the script.

If you do not have an existing script on the server, select the Manual button.

Enter the number of nodes you wish the job to use in the # nodes field, or use the up/down buttons to adjust the value.

Enter the number of processors per node you wish the job to use in the # procs/node field, or use the up/down buttons to adjust the value.

Enter the priority of the job in the Priority field, or use the up/down buttons to adjust the value.

To submit the job to a desired queue, select the queue from the drop-down box.

To set the estimated CPU time the job will use, select the Est CPU option and enter the time in HH:MM:SS format.

To set the estimated wall time the job will use, select the Est Wall option and enter the time in HH:MM:SS format.

In the Program section, select the message passing program needed such as mpiexec or pvm.

Type in the path to the application to run, or click the ... button to browse.

Type in the startup directory for the application, or click the ... button to browse for a directory.

Click the OK button when finished.

Transfer

This allows you to transfer files to and from your cluster.

The list shows active transfers. WARNING: closing the application while a transfer is in progress will stop the transfer!

To upload a file to your cluster, click the Upload button and select the local file to send to your cluster.

To download a file from your cluster, click the Download button and select the remote file to get from your cluster.

To pause a transfer, select the file in the list and click the Pause button.

To cancel a transfer, select the file in the list and click the Cancel button.

Exiting the application

Click on the File menu and select Exit.