ITS Linux Cluster
ITS operates a Linux-based commodity cluster with a frontend named Fir. This cluster is managed by the UVa Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering. Fir is a large-memory cluster consisting of 92 nodes. Twelve of the nodes contain one dual-core 3-GHz Intel dual-core Xeon cpu with 32GB of RAM per node. Another 56 nodes are 8-core servers, with 48 GB per server. There are also 24 12-way nodes with 96 GB per node. Most of these cores are hyperthreaded, bringing the total number of logical cores that are eligible for no preemption to 1496. The interconnect for all these nodes is GigE.
In addition to these public nodes, a number of nodes have been purchased by research groups for their use. These nodes are available to others when not in use by the purchasers; other jobs will be pre-empted whenever a member of the purchasing group starts a job. Some of these nodes have 32 GB per 8-way set and others have 48 GB per 8-way or 12-way. The default queue permits scheduling on these nodes so that users whose jobs can be rerun if necessary can be scheduled on them.
The cluster is accessed through the frontend, fir.itc.virginia.edu. Fir itself has dual quad-core cpus and 48GB of memory.
Access to the clusters is available to anyone with a research computing-enabled
account.
All ITC Linux clusters are queue-controlled via the PBS Pro queueing system. Queues are defined by the type of resource request. The policies set such parameters as how many concurrent jobs may be run and are subject to change. New users should read the Getting Started Guide for information about utilizing the clusters via the queueing system. New users should also consider working through the hands-on tutorial.
Advanced users can find more details about the PBS system in the PBS
User’s Guide.
If you are thinking of purchasing a Linux cluster, you may wish to consider purchasing nodes on an ITC Linux cluster instead. ITC has a program that enables researchers to buy nodes in a Linux cluster that ITC houses and maintains for a three-year period. Find out more about the program from our Linux Cluster Node Purchase page.
If you have questions about ITC Linux clusters, please email them to the UVA Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering.