Difference between revisions of "Guidelines and Terms of use"

From Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Jump to: navigation, search
 
(20 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Guidelines and Terms of use:'''
+
'''Please familiarise yourself thoroughly with the following:'''
 +
* A basic knowledge of Linux is a requirement to interact with our server environment.
  
All users should use the PBS queuing system for submitting jobs.
+
* All users should use the PBS Torque queue manager for submitting jobs.
  
Please do '''not''' run jobs directly on the main headnode wonko.bi.up.ac.za.
+
* Please do '''not''' run jobs directly on the main headnode wonko.bi.up.ac.za.
  
Computing resources are managed by the queuing system.
+
* Computing resources are managed by the queuing system.
  
Storage resources however, have user quotas, and are billed for, according to our billing policy (See storage and quotas).
+
* Storage resources however, have user quotas, and are billed for, according to our billing policy (See [[Storage Quotas and Charges]]).
  
Both users, and their supervisors should familiarise themselves with the quota system, and the costs incurred.
+
* Both users, and their supervisors should familiarise themselves with the quota system, and the costs incurred.
  
Home directories - every user gets allocated 500 GB on the file server at /home/<username>. The purpose of this is
+
* Home directories - every user gets allocated 500 GB on the file server at /home/<username>. The purpose of this is to serve as a landing spot when you log in, and for storing documents and similar files. It is expressly '''not intended''' for research data.
  
 to serve as a landing spot when you log in, and for storing documents and similar files. It is expressly '''not intended''' for research data.
+
* Data directories - every user also gets allocated by default 1 TB on our fast Lustre storage at /nlustre/users/<username>. 
  
Data directories - every user also gets allocated by default 1 TB on our fast Lustre storage at /nlustre/users/<username>. 
+
* This is where your large files must go, and where you should process from, and store towards during processing.
  
This is where your large files must go, and where you should process from, and store towards during processing.
+
* This storage may '''not be used''' for backup of any other systems, PC's, laptops or data. You may also not store personal data such as movies, music files and photos here. Its intended for bona fide research activities on Bioinformatics servers only.
  
This storage must ''not be used'' for backup of any other systems or data. Its intended for bona fide research activities only.
+
* The home directories get backed up daily with a retention period of 2 weeks for multiple versions.
  
The home directories gets backed up daily with a retention period of 1 week for multiple versions.
+
* Due to its size, the Lustre directories get replicated to our replication storage once per week.
  
Due to its size, the Lustre directories only gets replicated (twice per week at present). Our intention is to try and replicate every night if possible.
+
* You must request installation of utilities and software applications from the systems admin, who will evaluate the best solution for you, and perform the installation system-wide. '''You may not install or attempt to install software of any kind on our servers,''' even under your own account (trying to use utilities like brew or conda will simply not work).
 +
 
 +
* DISCLAIMER: Take note that whilst we do backups to the best of our ability of all servers and data, '''the onus of securing and ownership of your data remain with you, the user, and your supervisor. We do not accept responsibility for the loss of users' data or intellectual property.''' We do not have control over the stability and availability of reliable power supply to the facility. Hence unplanned outages may occur at any time, and this may cause data loss, even on our backup systems.

Latest revision as of 10:35, 15 September 2021

Please familiarise yourself thoroughly with the following:

  • A basic knowledge of Linux is a requirement to interact with our server environment.
  • All users should use the PBS Torque queue manager for submitting jobs.
  • Please do not run jobs directly on the main headnode wonko.bi.up.ac.za.
  • Computing resources are managed by the queuing system.
  • Storage resources however, have user quotas, and are billed for, according to our billing policy (See Storage Quotas and Charges).
  • Both users, and their supervisors should familiarise themselves with the quota system, and the costs incurred.
  • Home directories - every user gets allocated 500 GB on the file server at /home/<username>. The purpose of this is to serve as a landing spot when you log in, and for storing documents and similar files. It is expressly not intended for research data.
  • Data directories - every user also gets allocated by default 1 TB on our fast Lustre storage at /nlustre/users/<username>. 
  • This is where your large files must go, and where you should process from, and store towards during processing.
  • This storage may not be used for backup of any other systems, PC's, laptops or data. You may also not store personal data such as movies, music files and photos here. Its intended for bona fide research activities on Bioinformatics servers only.
  • The home directories get backed up daily with a retention period of 2 weeks for multiple versions.
  • Due to its size, the Lustre directories get replicated to our replication storage once per week.
  • You must request installation of utilities and software applications from the systems admin, who will evaluate the best solution for you, and perform the installation system-wide. You may not install or attempt to install software of any kind on our servers, even under your own account (trying to use utilities like brew or conda will simply not work).
  • DISCLAIMER: Take note that whilst we do backups to the best of our ability of all servers and data, the onus of securing and ownership of your data remain with you, the user, and your supervisor. We do not accept responsibility for the loss of users' data or intellectual property. We do not have control over the stability and availability of reliable power supply to the facility. Hence unplanned outages may occur at any time, and this may cause data loss, even on our backup systems.