Learning how to use HPC infrastructure (part I: Intro, Access, Getting help)

Wednesday 8 Oct 2025, 09:30 → 16:00 Europe/Brussels

Salle S09 (Namur or Liege)

Do you need to use an HPC cluster, but you do not know how to connect and/or how to use Unix? Then this training is for you. We will start the day with a broad introduction to the various topics that can be useful for you regarding the HPC environment and then explain how to correctly/efficiently setup your connection to work efficiently (ssh, file transfer/syncronization/...). We will finish the day by a Q&A time such time you will all have the time to bring your question/problem. This day will happen in two locations: Namur: Main site (where the speaker will be physically) Liege: Video retransmission of the talk with sysadmin presence for helping for the SSH configuration/Q&A, in Building B52.
Contents: Introduction to high-performance computing Connecting with SSH from Windows and Linux on CECI clusters	Prerequisite: None
	Type: Lecture in person (Namur) and video retransmitted in Liege (in person too) Target audience: Rookie Must: The content is a requirement for all others session

1 Introduction to high-performance computing

This first session introduces to the field of high performance computing and presents the whole training offer.
Contents: Introduction to cluster computing: strengths and weaknesses Presentation of the CÉCI clusters and collborators, and Tier-1 Presentation of the training sessions Presentation of the account creation process	No prerequisite. Prerequisite for: all the other sessions.  Type: Lecture Target audience: Everyone Must: This session is mandatory.

Speaker: Frédéric Wautelet (University of Namur)

2025 - 01. Introduction to high-performance computing (Frédéric Wautelet).pdf

2 Help us help you

This second session explains what you, as a user, can do to "help us help you". Small details in the way you use the clusters can have a large impact on the cluster ecosystem in general and on the availability of the system administrators to help on specific and non-trivial problems in your jobs.

Contents: Good CÉCI citizenship and user duties Tips for quick support from the admins Pre-requisite checklist

No prerequisite. Prerequisite for: all the other sessions.  Type: Lecture Target audience: Everyone Must: This session is mandatory.

Speaker: Damien François (UCLouvain/CISM)

helpushelpyou.pdf

3 Connecting with SSH from Mac and Linux

SSH is the protocol used to connect to the clusters. This session presents the complete use of the tools to make access to the clusters easy (without being harrassed by passphrase requests, coping with firewalls in a transparent manner, transferring files from one cluster to another, etc.)
Contents: SSH client usage and common errors SSH keys, passphrases and agents SSH configuration file Passphrase managers Tunnels, proxies and (pseudo-)VPNs SSH-based file transfer (SCP, rsync, Unison, SSHFS)	Prerequisite: Being familiar with a text editor  Prerequisite for: all the other sessions   Type: Hands-on,  Target audience: Everyone Must: This session is mandatory.

Speaker: Juan Cabrera (UNamur/PTCI)

cours_ssh_linux.pdf

4 Connecting with SSH from Windows

SSH is the protocol used to connect to the clusters. This session presents the complete use of the tools to make access to the clusters easy (without being harrassed by passphrase requests, coping with firewalls in a transparent manner, transferring files from one cluster to another, etc.)
Contents: SSH client usage and common errors SSH keys, passphrases and agents SSH configuration file Passphrase managers Tunnels, proxies and (pseudo-)VPNs SSH-based file transfer (SCP, rsync, Unison, SSHFS)	Prerequisite: Being familiar with a text editor  Mastering the Linux command line and the GNU utilities (mkdir, cp, scp, etc.) Prerequisite for: all the other sessions   Type: Hands-on,  Target audience: Everyone Must: This session is mandatory.

Speaker: Olivier Mattelaer (UCLouvain/CISM)

25_10_SSH.pdf

mobaxterm_step_by_step.pdf

vscode.pdf

5 Q&A and Meet the Team

This slot is dedicated to answering any question the audience might have.