Underworld

a long term geodynamics simulation platform

Using Underworld on the ARCS Grid

The ARCS Grid provides a new way to submit Underworld jobs to supported computer clusters, without needing to use command-line tools. The following steps will guide you through getting started on the Grid. Further information about running compute jobs on the ARCS Grid is available at http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/system-services/compute-services.

Underworld Grid Workshop 2009

A free Underworld Grid Workshop was held at Monash University Caulfield Campus on Wednesday 10 June. This half-day workshop introduced potential, new and current users of Underworld to submitting Underworld models to computer clusters across the ARCS Grid, using the Grid submission client Grisu graphical user interface. Participants learnt how to submit existing Underworld model files to a computer cluster, using a select range of Underworld's modelling capabilities, and view and retrieve their results. Participants were NOT required to install Underworld on their laptop prior to or during the workshop. Prior experience with using Underworld, command-lines or computer clusters was NOT required. For further information see:

Which Supported Computer Clusters have Underworld Modules Installed?

The Software Map provides lists of applications installed as modules on supported computer clusters. The most recent Underworld modules are also "grid-enabled" for use across the Grid:

Grid System and Software Requirements

You can connect to the Grid from linux, macs and Windows operating systems. The following versions of Java are required:

  • linux and windows: at least Java 5/1.5 (sun-java6-jre or compatible equivalent)
  • macs: Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0:
    • at least Release 4 (which includes J2SE version 1.5.0_06, and supersedes Java 1.4.2), which in turn requires Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later
    • should also work with Release 6 (which updates J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_13 and Java 1.4 to version 1.4.2_16), which in turn requires Mac OS X 10.4.10 and later.

Getting Started with the Grid

We provide below a quick-start guide to getting started with Underworld on the ARCS Grid. For further details, see http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/system-services/compute-services.

1. Join the ARCS IdP

The easist way to get started with the ARCS Grid is to be a member of a functioning Identity Provider (IdP). You can apply to join the ARCS IdP at https://idp.arcs.org.au/idp_reg/. Further information about the ARCS IdP is provided at http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/authorisation-services/arcs-identity-provider.

2. Register for ARCS Services

Go to http://services.arcs.org.au/ and follow the links to register to use ARCS Services, selecting the ARCS IdP and entering your ARCS IdP username and password. For further details see http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/systems-services/compute-services/using-grisu-step-01.

3. Download the Grisu Grid Submission Client

Grisu, which was formally released on 30 April 2009, is a Java-based Grid submission client graphical user interface, that provides an all-in-one interface for all the necessary steps to submitting compute jobs to clusters across the ARCS Grid using Underworld (as well as other applications).

Download the latest Grisu release (for all operating systems) from http://grisu.arcs.org.au/downloads/webstart/grisu.jnlp.

Those who have previously used the Grisu beta release should also read http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/systems-services/compute-services/grisu-release.

For a list of currently known issues with Grisu, see http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/systems-services/compute-services/grisu-known-issues.

Further information about Grisu is available at http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/systems-services/grisu.

4. Start Grisu and Authenticate

Double-click on grisu.jnlp (click on the "Trust" buttons to confirm that you trust the certificates) and select "Shibboleth login". Enter your ARCS IdP username and password, and click on the "Login" button (see http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/systems-services/compute-services/using-grisu-step-02 for a step-by-step guide).

5. Submit a Test Underworld Job

Follow the intructions at http://projects.arcs.org.au/trac/grisu/wiki/UnderworldTestCase (skipping the "Login and VO Selection" step, as you've already logged in using Shibboleth), which will guide you through a sample Underworld workflow, demonstrating many of Grisu's relevant capabilities. It is recommended that you always select the most recent version of Underworld when submitting your compute job.

A guide to running a very simple (non-Underworld) test job is also supplied at http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/systems-services/compute-services/using-grisu-step-03.

6. Join a Virtual Organisation (VO)

In order to submit real Underworld compute jobs across the Grid (requiring more resources than a test job of up to 15 minutes), you will need to join a Virtual Organisation (VO), and select that VO in Grisu before submitting your compute jobs. ARCS can create a VO for each research group, who then need to approach a site to support their VO (cluster usage charges may apply). For example, the "MonashGeo" VO has been set up for the AuScope Underworld user community at Monash University to use VPAC cluster resources.

Further information about Virtual Organisations is available at http://www.arcs.org.au/products-services/authorisation-services/virtual-organisations.

Support


Help with using the ARCS Grid and the Grisu Grid submission client http://www.arcs.org.au/support
Queries regarding the installation of Underworld release modules on the ARCS Grid contact Wendy Mason, Underworld eResearch Officer
Instructions on how to use Underworld Underworld User Manual
Help with using Underworld contact underworld-users@vpac.org

-- Wendy Mason - 23 June 2009
-- Patrick Sunter - 13 June 2007