Introduction to Academic HPC Clusters and Their Operating Systems

High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters have become an essential tool for academic research, powering a wide range of scientific and computational tasks. When selecting an operating system for these clusters, various factors must be considered, including performance, support, community, and cost. This article explores the most commonly used operating systems in academic HPC environments and highlights the benefits and drawbacks of each.

The Dominance of Linux in Academic HPC Clusters

Linux is by far the most prevalent operating system in academic HPC clusters due to its flexibility, performance, and open-source nature. This section delves into the specific Linux distributions used in these environments, with a focus on their features and advantages.

CentOS - Stability and Long-Term Support

CentOS is a community-supported distribution derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It is favored in academic HPC clusters due to its stability and long-term support. This ensures that the system remains secure and reliable over an extended period, making it a preferred choice for research projects that require consistent performance.

Ubuntu - Ease of Use and Comprehensive Documentation

Ubuntu has gained popularity among academic HPC clusters due to its ease of use and comprehensive documentation. This makes it an accessible option for researchers and students who may not have extensive system administration experience. The extensive community support also contributes to its popularity.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) - Commercial Support

RHEL is often used in institutions that require commercial support. It offers a high level of stability and security, backed by Red Hat's enterprise-grade support services. This makes it an excellent choice for organizations that demand robust, 24/7 support for their HPC clusters.

Debian - Robustness and Extensive Package Management

Debian is known for its robustness and extensive package management. It provides a robust and stable operating environment, making it suitable for complex HPC workloads. Debian is particularly popular among developers and researchers who require a highly customizable system.

Cray Operating System (COS) - Tailored for High-Performance Computing

Although not an operating system per se, IBM Spectrum LSF, a workload management system, is often used in conjunction with Linux on HPC clusters. Additionally, Cray Operating System (COS) is specifically designed for Cray supercomputers, providing optimized performance for high-performance computing tasks.

Microsoft Windows

While less common, Windows HPC Server is occasionally used in academic HPC clusters, particularly in domains that heavily integrate with Microsoft technologies. However, its usage is typically limited due to higher costs and less flexibility compared to Linux-based systems.

The Advantage of Red Hat Linux in Academic Settings

In academic settings, Red Hat Linux is often chosen over other distributions due to the benefits it offers:

Support: Red Hat provides comprehensive support, ensuring that users receive alerts on security issues and can deploy systems that automatically update. This is crucial for maintaining the security and reliability of HPC clusters. Update Flexibility: Unlike Microsoft OSes, Red Hat allows almost everything to be updated without a reboot, and you can install a new kernel without immediate activation, making maintenance easier and less disruptive. Multiple Kernel Versions: Staying up-to-date with the latest kernel versions ensures that if there is a problem, users can quickly switch to a different version from the boot menu before electing it as the default kernel in the Grub menu.

Learning from Linux Distributions

Academic HPC clusters provide a unique opportunity to learn about various Linux distributions. For instance, Ubuntu is a popular choice and works well, but Rocks is another distribution that is highly regarded for its usability and ease of use, although it has not been personally tried.

Conclusion

In summary, while Linux dominates the landscape of academic HPC clusters due to its extensive support for parallel computing libraries and tools, different distributions offer unique advantages. Red Hat Linux is preferred in many academic settings due to its versatile support and update flexibility. Understanding these options can help researchers and administrators make informed decisions when setting up and managing HPC clusters.

For further reading and detailed information, explore the resources available on Red Hat’s official website and the Ubuntu documentation.