The Compute Server (nuff-compute.nuff.ox.ac.uk)

Nuffield's Compute server is available to college members whose data analysis involves the use of large or complex datasets, running over a long period of time.

Hardware:

  • Intel Xeon Gold 6330 CPU. each has 28 cores with hyperthreading enabled allowing for 112 simultaneous threads.
  • 56 Physical Processor cores (112 Virtual)
  • 512GB of Memory

Core software installed: 

  • Windows Server 2022 Standard
  • Matlab
  • Oxmetrics
  • R, R Studio and R Tools
  • Python
  • Stata MP (16 cores)

Please note that Microsoft Office and Acrobat/PDF tools are not available for use on this server.


Account management

Requests for access to the Compute server should be emailed to it@nuffield.ox.ac.uk explaining your specific needs, intended use and an estimated project length.

Once permission is granted, the server can be accessed the same way as connecting to the Academic Remote Server but by replacing the server name with nuff-compute.nuff.ox.ac.uk.

Users must reapply for access to the compute server each term (a reminder will be sent beforehand).

Accounts will be reviewed in week 0 of each term. Please let IT know your intentions in advance if you are likely to be away during these times.

With accounts which are to be removed, IT will endeavour to move data and 'do scripts' etc. left behind to the individual’s ‘My Documents’ on the file server. (Note that extremely large files may not be copied.)

Long running sessions

You must connect once per week to monitor any long-running jobs. Details:

  • Sessions will go into an idle state relatively quickly
  • If idle for 24h the session is disconnected (but jobs continue to run)
  • If no connection is detected within 14 days, the session and jobs are very likely to be terminated

Compute Server Etiquette and Fair Usage

  • The Compute Server is a shared resource. Over intense use will affect others’ running jobs, and the ability of some to carry out basic work on the server (prepare scripts, download data etc.)
  • Please use the Task Manager to see how your jobs are running and how busy the server is with others’ jobs. Access the Task Manager through the short cut on the desktop, or by right-clicking on the Windows Start menu
  • Check your jobs regularly. When your job finishes, stop the application and log out. This frees up memory for others.
  • If your jobs impact the server heavily, see if you are able to limit the number of cores or memory your job will use (see above for overall resources). The software you are using may allow you to set limits.
  • Please plan ahead if you can and flag with other users when you intend to run your jobs. See job sheet below.
  • Please store the data you are working on in your Documents folder.
  • Feel free to contact other users. Either do so directly, or via this mailing list (to all users): nuff-compute-users@maillist.ox.ac.uk
  • Do not attempt to install software (executables).  If you think you need anything installing, please put in a request to IT.
  • Please enter your planned jobs at the link below.

Enter your jobs on this job sheet.  (Accessible only by registered compute server users.)

The Oxford SuperComputer (Advanced Research Computing)

In some instances however, the Oxford SuperComputer may be more appropriate for your needs http://www.arc.ox.ac.uk/