January and February workshop offers hands-on introduction to UNIX computing
Enhanced skills for using UNIX-based high-performance computing systems like Purdue’s Community Cluster Program research supercomputers is the focus of a two-part introductory workshop this spring for students, staff and faculty.
Part one, UNIX 101, will cover topics ranging from logging in, files and directories (including compressing, transferring and backing up files), to permissions, pipelines and basic scripting. The workshop, to include a number of hands-on exercises, will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Thursday, Jan. 25, in the Hicks Undergraduate Library, Room G959. New material will be covered at each session, so participants should attend both days. No previous UNIX experience is required.
There is no fee to attend, but individuals who are interested in attending should register soon for UNIX 101 at https://www.eventreg.purdue.edu/training/CourseListing.aspx?master_id=5622&master_version=1&course_area=1079&course_number=110&course_subtitle=00. Space is limited to 25 participants.
Part two, UNIX 201, will cover topics ranging from regular expressions and UNIX programs grep, AWK and sed to introductory Bash scripting including variables, branches and loops, input and output. This part of the workshop will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, and Thursday, Feb. 8, in the Hicks Undergraduate Library, Room G959. It will also include hands-on exercises. As with UNIX 101, the second day will build on the previous day and participants should attend both days. Individuals should register for UNIX 201 at https://www.eventreg.purdue.edu/training/CourseListing.aspx?master_id=5656&master_version=1&course_area=1079&course_number=111&course_subtitle=00.
Participants are welcome to attend either or both UNIX 201 or UNIX 101, although it is suggested that those taking 201 also attend 101. Lab PCs will be available, but you are welcome to bring your own computer. If you will be using your own Windows machine, you will need a terminal emulator like PuTTY, a free, full-featured SSH client that is a small download. If you have problems installing this, arrive 15 minutes before the workshop for assistance.
ITaP Research Computing is hosting the workshop. Eric Adams, who coordinates training for ITaP Research Computing, says that the skills covered are essential for anyone who plans to utilize Purdue’s high-performance computing resources, such as the community clusters, in their research.
ITaP Research Computing will also present a hands-on Clusters 101 workshop designed to give current and potential community cluster users an overview of the high-performance computing resources available at Purdue and explain how to use those resources effectively. That workshop will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on each of Monday, Feb. 19 and Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Hicks Undergraduate Library, Room G959. Knowledge of basic UNIX commands is necessary, and those who have little previous UNIX experience should take both UNIX 101 and UNIX 201 first.
The UNIX and cluster workshops are popular and frequently have a waiting list. If you register and then can’t attend, please return to the registration system and drop the course, or email rcac-help@purdue.edu.
For more information, email rcac-help@purdue.edu.