== Math Account ==

In the old days, academic departments had their own computer systems with their own separate user accounts. Math was no exception. Most things are now centralized, or hosted on external services, but the Math department has a few unique needs that would not be cost effective in the centralized model. Also, there are many people at Math who prefer to work in the computing environment they have always found familiar. So, we took our old traditional system, fixed it up, updated it, and modernized it. The result is a system that meets both the old needs and the new needs, and does it in a way that is orders of magnitude less expensive than equivalent services from outside the department.

The math account is a username and password that is used to access the math department computing resources.

==== Why not just use NetIDs? ====

There's an F.A.Q. below, but we'll answer this one up front. The old system existed long before netids, and there are many people who are still using their pre-netid accounts for regular work. Also, there are many rules and contraints to connecting math department machines to the central Cornell system. The biggest one is performance. Some parts of the system need to make many calls across the network for some operations, and it would be much slower. Also, the central system can be changed without notice, or may go down for maintenance. So we've had better speed and reliability with our separate system.
The next reason is security. The Math account is controlled by the netid, such as for password reset, but there is nothing in a person's netid account that is accessible from their Math account. So, math researchers can do what they want, and this separation keeps the Cornell system safe.
In the future, it may be desirable to set up access to the system that uses NetIDs as the primary username. This is possible if it's found to be necessary.

==== Math Account Resources ====

* A consistent desktop environment across all systems, from desktop workstations, to large number crunchers, to pay-as-you-go systems at the Center for Advanced Computing, or Amazon AWS.
* A personal file storage area that is backed up regularly, in your home directory.
* Access to a very large, fast volume for larger datasets, in the /space volume.
* Access to very fast local storage on all of the machines, in /local
* Commercial software such as Matlab, Mathematica, Maple, Magma, and many others, already configured for GPU and cluster access.
* Major free software titles, configured and ready to use, with GPU or cluster support as applicable. These include GAP, pari/gp, Macaulay2, Sage, Python, R, Julia, and many more.
* Latex composition tools as well as LibreOffice, pdf conversion tools, and much more.
* Access to all systems using JupyterHub, to take advantage of all of these resources through a persistent jupyter notebooks interface.
* In-browser file transfer in and out of the system, using JupyterHub or Webdisk.
* In-browser access to the Linux desktop environment where all of these tools are available.

==== Getting a Math Account ====

Anyone at Math who is a member of the math.instructors group may send an invite to a NetID to set up a Math account, by going to https://accounts.math.cornell.edu/ and clicking the 'invite user' link.

If you don't have a math account and you would like one, ask a math instructor, or email mathsystems@cornell.edu to request one.

Anyone with a NetID may have a math account, all we ask is that they're respectful of system resources (details below).

==== Resource Usage ====

Commercial software such as Matlab, Mathematica, and Maple have a limited number of licenses. This means there can only be a certain number of these programs running at any given time in the department (including Math machines running in the cloud). Please don't leave these programs running when they're not in use, since you'll be taking up a license. Priority for these programs is for Math faculty, grad students, and researchers. Right now there is no restriction on who can run these programs, but if people have trouble getting an available license, access may be restricted to certain groups.

Files in your home account, under /homes/{username} are backed up every 24 hours. Please be aware of how much space you are using. A few gigabytes is fine, but large data will fill up our backups. Use the /space volume for that. We don't strictly enforce file quotas, but if there is a problem with accounts filling up, we may have to.

The /space volume is large and fast. You may put large amounts of data into /space, all we ask is that you are a 'good neighbor' and don't abuse the privilege. Files in the /space volume can be read at 10GB/second by the calculation machines. /space is not officially backed up, but we usually make snapshots nightly, just in case. This backup is not guaranteed to happen the way it is for your home account. To use the /space volume, make a directory there whose name is the same as your username. Then you may put whatever you want inside that directory.

Each machine has a /local volume. Some are larger than others. They are all VERY fast because they're on the local machine. Remember, the contents of /local will be different on every machine. Just like on /space, you may create a directory with the same name as your username, then put whatever you want inside there. Please be careful not to fill up the volume, use the 'df' command to check the percentage of space used.

Math Account

2023-03-22T16:04:04Z

Rmh325:

Math Account

2023-03-22T15:53:49Z

Rmh325: Created page with "== Math Account == In the old days, academic departments had their own computer systems with their own separate user accounts. Math was no exception. Most things are now cent..."

Test Page

2023-03-22T15:25:54Z

Rmh325: /* Handy Links */

== Test Page ==

This is a place to doodle, and test out formatting without having to temporarily mess up an actual page.

= Handy Links =

* [https://e.math.cornell.edu/wiki/index.php/Slurm_Quick_Start Slurm Quick Start Guide]
* [https://e.math.cornell.edu/wiki/index.php/Mathematica_Parallel_Computing_Configuration Mathematica Remote Kernel Configuration]
* [https://e.math.cornell.edu/wiki/index.php/Configuring_Ipython_for_Parallel_Computing Configuring IPython] for Parallel Computing
*The [https://math.cornell.edu Math Department] Homepage.
*The Math Department [https://math.cornell.edu/people People Pages].
*[https://people.as.cornell.edu/saml_login Link to edit] your People page.
*The [https://webwork2.math.cornell.edu/ WeBWorK] Math Homework System.

For instructors and researchers:
*Log in to [http://outlook.cornell.edu Cornell Email] on the web.
*Reset your [https://accounts.math.cornell.edu/panel/ Math Account] Password.
*Instructors can [https://accounts.math.cornell.edu/panel/invite.php send an invitation] to set up a Math Account to any NetID.
*[https://pi.math.cornell.edu View] the old server, pi.
*[https://pi.math.cornell.edu/m/ADMIN/Protected Log in] to pi.
*The 'Syllabus File' [https://e.math.cornell.edu/apps/courseinfo/ Course Materials] database.
*[https://e.math.cornell.edu/webdisk Access your files] on the Math system Webdisk.
*Other ways to access your Math files.
*Use the Math Department computation machines.
*How to print at the Math department.
*Printer activity and availability.
*How to scan.
* View the status of the Math systems.

Links for Staff:
*The [https://dynomite.math.cornell.edu Department Database].
*How to connect to the staff file share.
*How to connect to your work computer from home.
* Math Department Student [https://e.math.cornell.edu/apps/emp Employment] Site.
**Student Employee [https://e.math.cornell.edu/apps/emp-review/ Performance Review] Site.
**[https://e.math.cornell.edu/apps/emp/admin Administrative] Login

[[Math How Tos]]
[[Math Account]]

2023-03-06T20:41:17Z

Rmh325: Created page with "The Math Portal is a web site that allows you to connect to the computer resources at the Math department through your browser. The portal is behind a single Cornell Two-fact..."

The Math Portal is a web site that allows you to connect to the computer resources at the Math department through your browser.

The portal is behind a single Cornell Two-factor log in. Once you've logged in with two-factor, you can access many resources through your browser, without the need to install special software on your computer or use a VPN.

The Portal gives you

JupyterHub, which gives you access to Jupyter notebooks on any of the fast machines at the department. Jupyter lets you use Python, R, SageMath, and many other things, as well as providing a terminal, file uploads and downloads, and a file editor. Your jupyter session is persistent, so you can close your browser and connect again later, and your session will still be available. You can also connect to clusters to run your code across many machines, either at Math, or elsewhere, all inside a jupyter notebook! There are numerous add-ons and settings for JupyterHub, so if there is something you'd like to see there, please request it.

Web Desktop. Web Desktop allows you to use a Linux desktop from inside your browser. There is no need to install client software or use a VPN. You can access major software packages such as Matlab, Mathematica, Maple, and other desktop applications.

Web Disk. The old-fashioned webdisk is still available through the browser. Jupyter Notebooks gives you most of the file access you need, but some folks still like the webdisk. It does a good job of transferring files through the browser, and is especially good for large files.

System Status lets you view real-time data on the computers and other resources at the Math department. If you are running a large job, you can look here and find out what resources it's using, and use that information to improve performance.

Print Portal allows you to print at Math from any device, if you already have printing permission. You can upload a PDF and print it, without changing what network you're connected to and without having to use a VPN.

There are also links to other pages, such as this wiki for information, the department website, and the page where you can control your Math account. More items will be added as they become available or by request.

Main Page

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Rmh325:

Computer Info

2023-01-27T18:55:02Z

Rmh325:

== Computer System Information for the Math Department ==

The Math Department has computer systems available for mathematics and other uses.

'''Math Department Computer Account'''

The Math Department has a separate computer account system for logging in to Linux workstations and the computation machines. This allows faster operations in many cases. It also protects users' netid accounts because Math Department accounts have no ability to access resources under NetID accounts. To set up a Math account, a Math instructor or system administrator must send an 'account invite' to a user's NetID. Once the user has been invited, they can use their NetID account and two-factor authentication to access the Math system and set up their Math account. To change the password on a Math department account, or to invite a user to set up a Math account, go to [https://accounts.math.cornell.edu Math Accounts Page]

Math department account files are stored on a central file server, and accessed over the network by the workstations. These files are available to the computation machines over a high-speed network in the server room.

'''Linux Workstations'''

The Math Department has Linux workstations which can be used for general computer use, as well as for access to Math computation tools and licensed commercial Math software, and the computation resources. They also have a full array of open-source software as well as numerous LaTeX tools for creating and working with Math documents.

'''Linux Computation Machines'''

Here is the [[MachineList]]

Math has several machines dedicated to computation. They can be accessed by ssh or by using remote desktop software. The environment is standardized between workstations and computation machines so that the user will have an environment that is familiar to them. The computation machines have different strengths, from GPU workstations to machines with very large memory and core counts. You can view the [[MachineList]] here.

The computation machines are housed in a special server room which has backup power, high-capacity cooling, and a high-speed network.

'''General-purpose GPU computing.'''

We have several GPU workstations for shared remote use. These machines have Nvidia RTX 2080 or RTX 3080 GPU units in them. They support CUDA and other libraries, and software including Tensorflow and other tools. All of our commercial Math packages have support for GPU calculations. Matlab, Mathematica, Maple, and Magma are all supported on our GPU systems.

'''Linux HPC cluster.'''

[[Cluster Info]]

'''Macintosh computers.'''

The Macintosh computers at the Math department are managed by the Math Department, working closely with A&S IT to maintain compliance with Cornell policies.

'''Windows computers.'''

Windows machines at the Math Department are managed by the College of Arts & Sciences I. T. staff. A&S handles the configuration and maintenance of the Windows computers. Math Department staff handle physical setup and installation, printing, and specialty software for the Windows computers. Users can log in to Windows machines using their NetID and NetID password.

[[Math How Tos]]

[[Handy Links]]

2023-01-09T20:13:39Z

Rmh325:

== Computer System Information for the Math Department ==

The Math Department has computer systems available for mathematics and other uses.

'''Math Department Computer Account'''

The Math Department has a separate computer account system for logging in to Linux workstations and the computation machines. This allows faster operations in many cases. It also protects users' netid accounts because Math Department accounts have no ability to access resources under NetID accounts. To set up a Math account, a Math instructor or system administrator must send an 'account invite' to a user's NetID. Once the user has been invited, they can use their NetID account and two-factor authentication to access the Math system and set up their Math account. To change the password on a Math department account, or to invite a user to set up a Math account, go to [https://accounts.math.cornell.edu Math Accounts Page]

Math department account files are stored on a central file server, and accessed over the network by the workstations. These files are available to the computation machines over a high-speed network in the server room.

'''Linux Workstations'''

The Math Department has Linux workstations which can be used for general computer use, as well as for access to Math computation tools and licensed commercial Math software, and the computation resources. They also have a full array of open-source software as well as numerous LaTeX tools for creating and working with Math documents.

'''Linux Computation Machines'''

Math has several machines dedicated to computation. They can be accessed by ssh or by using remote desktop software. The environment is standardized between workstations and computation machines so that the user will have an environment that is familiar to them. The computation machines have different strengths, from GPU workstations to machines with very large memory and core counts. You can view the [[MachineList]] here.

The computation machines are housed in a special server room which has backup power, high-capacity cooling, and a high-speed network.

'''General-purpose GPU computing.'''

We have several GPU workstations for shared remote use. These machines have Nvidia RTX 2080 or RTX 3080 GPU units in them. They support CUDA and other libraries, and software including Tensorflow and other tools. All of our commercial Math packages have support for GPU calculations. Matlab, Mathematica, Maple, and Magma are all supported on our GPU systems.

'''Linux HPC cluster.'''

'''Macintosh computers.'''

The Macintosh computers at the Math department are managed by the Math Department, working closely with A&S IT to maintain compliance with Cornell policies.

'''Windows computers.'''

Windows machines at the Math Department are managed by the College of Arts & Sciences I. T. staff. A&S handles the configuration and maintenance of the Windows computers. Math Department staff handle physical setup and installation, printing, and specialty software for the Windows computers. Users can log in to Windows machines using their NetID and NetID password.

[[Math How Tos]]

[[Computer Facilites]]

[[Handy Links]]