MFCF computing resource shortguide

2025-02-20

Only read if you wanna use school server

Which Operating System do you use?

  • In all OS, you can use Terminal or cmd to connect, but I perfer not using it as a beginner.
  • Windows, depends on the version of your OS… but I strongly recommend using WSL2. Otherwise, you may use Putty. In addition, I think MobaXterm is a good choice to connect to the servers.
  • MacOS, well… you may just use terminal. I think even Screen Sharing client, a default software works. Alternative, you may use royal TSX.
  • Linux, I prefer Remmina.

Download Cisco - the VPN software if you are off campus

  • Waterloo Web
  • Find the installization guide on the right hand side, and choose the appropriate OS.
  • Type your WatIAM ID and password to download.
  • Open Sever/connect to cn-vpn-uwaterloo.ca and type the account & password
  • You may need to obtain the second password using the DUO mobile app.

Open the software and connect to the servers

  1. Windows server - use Microsoft RDP I think is the easiest way. Let me know if you do not know how to use.

  2. Linux servers - use the thing you download in the first place.

    • The address is yourWatIAMid@cpuXXX.math.private.uwaterloo.ca
  • Description can be found HERE and HERE
  • The description of the CPUs are in HERE
  1. High-performance computing (HPC) & Graphics processing unit (GPU) cluster/server
    • It requires a bit more domain knowledge…
    • There are some good readings, such as 1.
    • It can do good in parallel computing (you have more cores).
  2. Check usage of the server you logged in & some commands… e.g. htop, top for memory usage, and a lot more

Running code on the server

  1. log onto the (Linux) server, say, cpu151.math.private.uwaterloo.ca

  2. cd to the directory where your code is located.

  3. Type Rscript your_code.R to run the code.

  4. You may want to use the nohup command to run the code in the background. For example, nohup Rscript your_code.R &

Contact

If you have questions or wonders, feel free to contact me

  1. chi-kuang.yeh@uwaterloo.ca or chi-kuang.yeh@mail.mcgill.ca

  2. I am currently a CANSSI Distinguish Postdoctoral Fellow at McGill University

  3. My website is https://chikuang.github.io/

  4. Life learner 😉