0.3 Introduction to NCAR Supercomputing

paleoCAMP logo

0.3 Introduction to NCAR Supercomputing#

Tutorial at the 2025 paleoCAMP | June 16–June 30, 2025

Jiang Zhu
jiangzhu@ucar.edu
Climate & Global Dynamics Laboratory
NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research

Learning Objectives#

  • Learn to connect and use NCAR computing resources: Derecho and JupyterHub

Time to learn: 10 minutes

NSF NCAR Advanced Research Computing#

  • The NSF NCAR Computational and Information Systems Lab (CISL) provides resources for high performance computing (Derecho), data anslysis and visualization (JupyterHub), and data storage and archives (Campaign Storage and RDA).

  • You need an account in order to access these resources. Let Jiang know if you haven’t got your account.

    • To login, please set up you CIT password and the DUO two-factor authenticationthe (Duo Mobile app or a landline phone).

    • Search Authenticating with Duo for details.

    • Call 303-497-2000 or email cislhelp@ucar.edu if you don’t have a CIT password.

  • The project number for paleoCAMP is UAZN0042, which will expire on July 31, 2025.

  • See here for options for a long-term access, such as the “Data Anaysis Allocation (University)”.

Connect Derecho via Terminal#

Most of the users use terminal to remotely access the NCAR HPC and run CESM there.

A terminal is a text-based interface used to control a Unix computer. It is widely considered the most efficient method to accomplish a given task or maintenance operation.

Launch a terminal from your system (Mac or PC)#

If on a Mac, open a terminal#

Go to the search spotlight (magnifying glass icon) and type in terminal.

  • Terminal is automatically built into the MacOS and clicking on it will open a terminal window.

  • iTerm is a third-party software that was installed by the user on their laptop and is another option for opening a terminal.

terminal mac

Figure: terminal mac

If on a PC, open a terminal#

Go to the start menu and type in terminal.

  • Terminal will open a terminal window.

  • Command Prompt will open a terminal window.

terminal PC

Figure: terminal PC

Login into Derecho at the NSF NCAR using ssh#

ssh -XY YOUR_USERNAME@derecho.hpc.ucar.edu

then type in your CIT password (the one you set up with CISL) and approve the DUO push

terminal SSH

Figure: terminal SSH

  • The -XY option enables the X11 forwarding.

  • X11 forwarding is an SSH protocol that enables users to run graphical applications on a remote server and interact with them using their local display and I/O devices.

Use the NCAR JupyterHub#

I used JupyterHub daily to access data and perform analyses.

Go to NCAR JupyterHub: https://jupyterhub.hpc.ucar.edu/#

JupyterHub login0

Figure: JupyterHub login0

Sign in with your username and password,passcode#

JupyterHub login1

Figure: JupyterHub login1

  • Type in your username

  • Type in your password,passcode

    • password is the CIT password you set up with CISL

    • passcode is the six digits on your DUO app (see the image below)

    • NOTE the comma , between password and passcode

  • NOTE: This is the way to avoid jamming DUO-JupyterHub when multiple users login at the same time

  • NOTE: For the future use, sign in with your username and password, and approve the DUO push

JupyterHub login

Figure: Jupyterhub Derecho

Start the JupyterHub#

  • From the dropdown menu, select

    • Casper PBS Batch under Resource Selection

    • casper under Queue or Reservation (to save resources)

    • UAZN0042 under Project Account

    • 06:00:00 under Wall Time

Jupyterhub Derecho

Figure: Jupyterhub Derecho

Launch a Notebook with Python#

Launch Notebook

Figure: Jupyterhub Derecho

How to log out the JupyterHub?#

  • Click the File tab and find and click Log Out at the bottom

More learning resources#

Contents