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Condor Cluster at Math

Computing cluster is best suited for tasks consisting of a large number of similar jobs, which can be run in parallel. For example, same algorithm run with varying input data.

Math Condor cluster size changes over time, but usually has more than 20 processor cores available. Status (size and load) of the cluster is monitored and can always be checked here.

Jobs are submitted using Condor software. Condor is free and open source, with binaries available for Linux and Windows. Here are installation instructions tailored for Math cluster: Linux, Windows. Condor is already installed and running on Math Dept. application server gauss as well as on Grad Lab Linux workstations.

If you have a fairly recent 64-bit Linux workstation, you should consider installing Condor and adding it to Math cluster as an execute node. Jobs will only be scheduled to run on your machine when it was idle for a certain amount of time, which is configurable. Installation is very similar to that of a submit-only node, and the differences are pointed out in instructions for Linux above.

With Condor installed and running, jobs can be sent to cluster by preparing a so-called “submit” file and then issuing a command: 

   condor_submit submitfile
Here is a zip-file with the very basic examples of submit files, including those for Maple, Mathematica and Matlab. Please browse through Condor User's Manual to get an idea of what else is possible.